Abstract 6217: Synergistic effect of CDK8 and BCL-2 inhibition in AML through regulation of MCL-1 and BIM balance (2020)

Abstract Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by rapid proliferation of myeloid blood cells. Due to its heterogeneity and the high rate of acquired drug resistance, new treatment modalities are needed. SEL120 is a specific type I selective inhibitor of Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) and Cyclin-dependent kinase 19 (CDK19). A first- in- human phase Ib clinical trial with SEL120 in patients with AML or HR-MDS was initiated in June 2019. Preclinical studies demonstrated high efficacy of SEL120 in experimental AML models via mechanisms involving differentiation and induction of apoptosis. Transcriptomic analysis of hematological cell lines demonstrated that SEL120 treatment upregulated expression of an apoptotic activator BIM from BCL-2 family of proteins. Methods Efficacy of the compound alone or in combination was tested in viability assays in a broad panel of cancer cell lines. Activity and mechanism of action of CDK8 inhibitor - SEL120 alone and in combination was investigated by flow cytometry, western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, differential gene expression and ChIPseq analysis. In vivo efficacy was tested in mice injected with MV4-11 cell line both subcutaneously and intravenously. Results Here we provide a strong rationale for combination of SEL120 and BCL-2-selective inhibitor Venetoclax (ABT-199). We found that SEL120 synergistically induced apoptosis with Venetoclax in AML cells. Combination of both compounds significantly reduced levels of prosurvival protein MCL-1 and induced hallmarks of apoptosis including Caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Previous studies associated Venetoclax resistance with increased sequestration of proapoptotic BIM by high levels of MCL-1. While a SEL120 treatment alone had no effects on MCL-1 levels, combination of both compounds resulted in sensitization of Venetoclax-resistant AML cells. We demonstrated that mechanism of Venetoclax resistance can be abrogated by the cotreatment with SEL120 leading to changes in proportions of BIM and MCL-1 levels. Synergistic interaction between SEL120 and Venetoclax resulted in apoptotic cell death in established cell lines and patient derived AML cells. Finally, using murine models of subcutaneous or disseminated AML, we found complete remissions of AML and associated recovery of normal cells in bone marrow of animals treated with both SEL120 and Venetoclax. Conclusion Taken together, these data provided rationale for a novel clinical strategy that may lead to durable responses in AML patients. Citation Format: Tomasz Rzymski, Marta Obacz, Milena Mazan, Marion Chappelier, Marcus Järås, Michal Mikula, Elżbieta Adamczyk, Katarzyna Wiklik, Michal Combik, Aniela Golas, Magdalena Masiejczyk, Przemyslaw Juszczynski, Jerzy Ostrowski, Krzysztof Brzózka. Synergistic effect of CDK8 and BCL-2 inhibition in AML through regulation of MCL-1 and BIM balance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 6217.