Project description:In the activated B cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), NF-kappaB activity is essential for viability of the malignant cells and is sustained by constitutive activity of IkappaB kinase (IKK) in the cytoplasm. Here, we report an unexpected role for the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins BRD2 and BRD4 in maintaining oncogenic IKK activity in ABC DLBCL. IKK activity was reduced by small molecules targeting BET proteins as well as by genetic knockdown of BRD2 and BRD4 expression, thereby inhibiting downstream NF-kappaB-driven transcriptional programs and killing ABC DLBCL cells. Using a high-throughput platform to screen for drug-drug synergy, we observed that the BET inhibitor JQ1 combined favorably with multiple drugs targeting B cell receptor signaling, one pathway that activates IKK in ABC DLBCL. The BTK kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, which is in clinical development for the treatment of ABC DLBCL, synergized strongly with BET inhibitors in killing ABC DLBCL cells in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the clinical development of BET protein inhibitors in ABC DLBCL, particularly in combination with other modulators of oncogenic IKK signaling. For JQ1 time course gene expression profiling, HBL1 and LP1 cells were treated with either DMSO or 100nM JQ1 for 1h, 3h, 8h, and 24h. For shRNA gene expression profiling, HBL1 cells were infected with either a Ctrl shRNA or with shRNA targeting BRD2 or BRD4. Following puromycin selection, shRNA expression was induced for 1 day and 2 days.
Project description:In the activated B cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), NF-kappaB activity is essential for viability of the malignant cells and is sustained by constitutive activity of IkappaB kinase (IKK) in the cytoplasm. Here, we report an unexpected role for the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins BRD2 and BRD4 in maintaining oncogenic IKK activity in ABC DLBCL. IKK activity was reduced by small molecules targeting BET proteins as well as by genetic knockdown of BRD2 and BRD4 expression, thereby inhibiting downstream NF-kappaB-driven transcriptional programs and killing ABC DLBCL cells. Using a high-throughput platform to screen for drug-drug synergy, we observed that the BET inhibitor JQ1 combined favorably with multiple drugs targeting B cell receptor signaling, one pathway that activates IKK in ABC DLBCL. The BTK kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, which is in clinical development for the treatment of ABC DLBCL, synergized strongly with BET inhibitors in killing ABC DLBCL cells in vitro and in a xenograft mouse model. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the clinical development of BET protein inhibitors in ABC DLBCL, particularly in combination with other modulators of oncogenic IKK signaling.
Project description:A subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), termed activated B-cell-like (ABC) DLBCL, depends on constitutive NF-kB pathway signaling for survival. Small molecule inhibitors of IkB kinase b (IKKb), a key regulator of the NF-kB pathway, kill ABC DLBCL cells and hold promise for the treatment of this lymphoma type. We conducted an RNA interference genetic screen to investigate potential mechanisms of resistance of ABC DLBCL cells to IKKb inhibitors. We screened a library of small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting 500 protein kinases for shRNAs that would kill an ABC DLBCL cell line in the presence of a small molecule IKKb inhibitor more effectively than in its absence. Two independent shRNAs targeting IKKa synergized with the IKKb inhibitor to kill three different ABC DLBCL cell lines but were not toxic by themselves. Surprisingly, IKKa shRNAs blocked the classical rather than the alternative NF-kB pathway in ABC DLBCL cells, as judged by inhibition of IkBa phosphorylation. IKKa shRNA toxicity was reversed by coexpression of wild type but not kinase inactive forms of IKKa, suggesting that IKKa may directly phosphorylate IkBa under conditions of IKKb inhibition. These results suggest that therapy for ABC DLBCL may be improved by targeting both IKKa and IKKb. Keywords: compound treatment design Gene expression profiling of OCI-Ly3 cells with or without expressing IKKa shRNA in the presence or absence of 12.5 uM IKKb inhibitor for 2 and 3 days. Four samples were analyzed.
Project description:A subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), termed activated B-cell-like (ABC) DLBCL, depends on constitutive NF-kB pathway signaling for survival. Small molecule inhibitors of IkB kinase b (IKKb), a key regulator of the NF-kB pathway, kill ABC DLBCL cells and hold promise for the treatment of this lymphoma type. We conducted an RNA interference genetic screen to investigate potential mechanisms of resistance of ABC DLBCL cells to IKKb inhibitors. We screened a library of small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting 500 protein kinases for shRNAs that would kill an ABC DLBCL cell line in the presence of a small molecule IKKb inhibitor more effectively than in its absence. Two independent shRNAs targeting IKKa synergized with the IKKb inhibitor to kill three different ABC DLBCL cell lines but were not toxic by themselves. Surprisingly, IKKa shRNAs blocked the classical rather than the alternative NF-kB pathway in ABC DLBCL cells, as judged by inhibition of IkBa phosphorylation. IKKa shRNA toxicity was reversed by coexpression of wild type but not kinase inactive forms of IKKa, suggesting that IKKa may directly phosphorylate IkBa under conditions of IKKb inhibition. These results suggest that therapy for ABC DLBCL may be improved by targeting both IKKa and IKKb. Keywords: compound treatment design
Project description:B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is essential for the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) subtype that originates from activated B-cells (ABC). ABC-DLBCL cells are sensitive to Bruton tyrosine kinase intervention. However, ABC-DLBCL patients had overall response rates of 33-37% for Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, suggesting the evaluation of combination-based treatment for improved efficacy. We investigated the efficacy and mechanism of AZD5153 combined with the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor acalabrutinib in ABC-DLBCL preclinical models. AZD5153 is a bivalent BET inhibitor that simultaneously engages the two bromodomains of BRD4. Adding AZD5153 to acalabrutinib demonstrated a combination benefit in ABC-DLBCL cell lines and PDX models. Differential expression analyses in treated tumors identified significant alterations of BCR, PAX5, RELB/alternative NFκB, and toll-like receptor/interferon signaling. PAX5 is a transcription factor for BCR signaling genes and may be critical to the perpetually active BCR signaling in ABC-DLBCL. We demonstrate that AZD5153 decreases PAX5 expression, while acalabrutinib disruption to BCR signaling inhibits PAX5 activation. Furthermore, several interferons were decreased by AZD5153 and acalabrutinib in tumors. Adding IFNß1 to cells in vitro restored PAX5 activation. Our results demonstrate AZD5153 enhances the efficacy of acalabrutinib through PAX5 and BCR mechanisms that are critical for ABC-DLBCL.
Project description:Activated B-cell-like (ABC) and germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represent the two major molecular DLBCL subtypes. They are characterized by differences in clinical course and by divergent addiction to oncogenic pathways. To determine activity of novel compounds in these two subtypes, we conducted an unbiased pharmacologic in vitro screen. The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) alpha/delta (PI3Ka/d) inhibitor AZD8835 showed marked potency in ABC DLBCL models, whereas the protein kinase B (AKT) inhibitor AZD5363 induced apoptosis in PTEN-deficient DLBCLs. These in vitro results were confirmed in various cell line xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models in vivo. Treatment with AZD8835 induced inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) signaling, prompting us to combine AZD8835 with the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib. This combination was highly synergistic and effective both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the AKT inhibitor AZD5363 was effective in PTEN-deficient DLBCLs through downregulation of the oncogenic transcription factor MYC. Collectively our data suggest that patients should be stratified according to their oncogenic dependencies when treated with PI3K and AKT inhibitors.
Project description:A key element for the development of suitable anti-cancer drugs is the identification of cancer-specific enzymatic activities that can be therapeutically targeted. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue transformation protein 1 (MALT1) is a proto-oncogene that contributes to tumorigenesis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the activated B-cell (ABC) subtype, the least curable subtype of DLBCL. Recent data suggest that MALT1 has proteolytic activity, but it is unknown whether this activity is relevant for tumor growth. Here we report that MALT1 is constitutively active in DLBCL lines of the ABC but not the GCB subtype. Inhibition of the MALT1 proteolytic activity led to reduced expression of growth factors and apoptosis inhibitors, and specifically affected the growth and survival of ABC DLBCL lines. These results demonstrate a key role for the proteolytic activity of MALT1 in DLBCL of the ABC subtype, and provide a rationale for the development of pharmacological inhibitors of MALT1 in DLBCL therapy. HBL-1 cells (n=8) were treated with IkB kinase beta inhibitor MLN120B (25 micromolar; Calbiochem) for 2h, 3h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 12h, 16h, and 24h (Cy5) and their gene expression compared to vehicle-treated cells (DMSO, Cy3). HBL-1 cells (n=4) and OCI-Ly3 cells (n=4) were treated with MALT1 inhibitor z-VRPR-fmk (50 micromolar; Alexis Biochemicals) for 6h, 12h, 24h, and 30h (Cy5) and their gene expression compared to vehicle-treated cells (DMSO, Cy3).
Project description:The activated B-cell–like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents a very aggressive human lymphoma entity. Constitutive NF-κB activation caused by chronic active B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is common feature of many ABC DLBCL cells; however, the pathways linking BCR signaling to the NF-κB prosurvival network are largely unknown. Here we report that constitutive activity of PI3K and the downstream kinase PDK1 are essential for the viability of two ABC DLBCL cell lines that carry mutations in the BCR proximal signaling adaptor CD79B. In these cells, PI3K inhibition reduces NF-κB activity and decreases the expression of NF-κB target genes. Furthermore, PI3K and PDK1 are required for maintaining MALT1 protease activity, which promotes survival of the affected ABC DLBCL cells. These results demonstrate a critical function of PI3K-PDK1 signaling upstream of MALT1 pro- tease and NF-κB in distinct ABC DLBCL cells and provide a rationale for the pharmacologic use of PI3K inhibitors in DLBCL therapy.
Project description:A key element for the development of suitable anti-cancer drugs is the identification of cancer-specific enzymatic activities that can be therapeutically targeted. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue transformation protein 1 (MALT1) is a proto-oncogene that contributes to tumorigenesis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the activated B-cell (ABC) subtype, the least curable subtype of DLBCL. Recent data suggest that MALT1 has proteolytic activity, but it is unknown whether this activity is relevant for tumor growth. Here we report that MALT1 is constitutively active in DLBCL lines of the ABC but not the GCB subtype. Inhibition of the MALT1 proteolytic activity led to reduced expression of growth factors and apoptosis inhibitors, and specifically affected the growth and survival of ABC DLBCL lines. These results demonstrate a key role for the proteolytic activity of MALT1 in DLBCL of the ABC subtype, and provide a rationale for the development of pharmacological inhibitors of MALT1 in DLBCL therapy.