Multi-omics exploration of microenvironmental changes during BTK covalent inhibition in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

ABSTRACT: Continuous treatment with ibrutinib not only exerts tumor control but also enhances T cell function in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We conducted longitudinal multiomics analyses in samples from CLL patients receiving ibrutinib upfront to identify potential adaptive mechanisms to Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibition during the first 12 months of continuous therapy. Wefound that in T cells, ibrutinib reduced the expression of exhaustion markers, the proportion of Tregs and Tfh cells, as well as expression of genes related to activation, proliferation, differentiation, and metabolism. In CLL cells, we observed a downregulation of immunosuppression, adhesion, and migration mechanisms. Adaptation at molecular level, characterized by an increase in cancer cell fraction of CLL cells with mutated driver genes, was observed in around half of the patients. Interestingly, BTK C481S mutations were detected as early as after 6 months of treatment, particularly enriched in subsets of malignant cells retaining migrative capacity. These CLL cells with potential migrative capacity under ibrutinib also exhibited a distinct transcriptomic profile including upregulation of mTOR-AKT and Myc pathways. We identified high expression of TMBIM6 as a potential novel independent poor prognostic factor. Of note, BIA, a TMBIM6 antagonist, induced CLL cell apoptosis and synergized with ibrutinib. In summary, our comprehensive multi-omics analysis of CLL patients undergoing ibrutinib therapy has unveiled early immunomodulatory effects on T cells and adaptative mechanisms in CLL cells. These findings can contribute to the identification of resistance mechanisms and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE254718 | GEO | 2024/02/07

REPOSITORIES: GEO