Co-targeting of HDAC, PI3K, and Bcl-2 results in metabolic and transcriptional reprogramming and decreased mitochondrial function in acute myeloid leukemia

Despite the recently approved new therapies, the clinical outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients remain disappointing, highlighting the need for novel therapies. Our lab has previously demonstrated the promising outlook for CUDC-907, a dual inhibitor of PI3K and HDAC, in combination with venetoclax (VEN), against AML both in vitro and in vivo at least partially through suppression of c-Myc. In this study, we further elucidated the mechanism of action of the combination in preclinical models of AML. We demonstrated that the combination significantly reduced primary AML cell engraftment in immunocompromised mice. RNA sequencing and metabolomics analyses revealed that the combination reduced the levels for mRNAs of key TCA cycle genes and metabolites in the TCA cycle, respectively. This was accompanied by a reduced oxygen consumption rate (OCR), demonstrating that the combination suppressed oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Metabolomics analyses revealed that a large number of metabolites upregulated in AraC-resistant AML cells could be downregulated by the combination. CUDC-907 synergized with VEN in inducing apoptosis in the AraC-resistant AML cells. In conclusion, the CUDC-907 and VEN combination induces metabolic and transcriptomic reprograming and suppression of OXPHOS in AML, which provides additional mechanisms underlying the synergy between the two agents.

 

Comments：

The researchers demonstrated that the combination reduced primary AML cell engraftment in immunocompromised mice and suppressed oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which is a key metabolic pathway in cancer cells. The combination also induced metabolic and transcriptomic reprogramming and downregulated key TCA cycle genes and metabolites in the TCA cycle. Metabolomics analyses revealed that a large number of metabolites upregulated in AraC-resistant AML cells could be downregulated by the combination. The study suggests that the combination of CUDC-907 and VEN may provide a promising therapeutic approach for AML by targeting multiple pathways, including metabolic reprogramming and suppression of OXPHOS.

Related Products

Cat.No.	Product Name	Information
S2759	Fimepinostat (CUDC-907)	CUDC-907 is a dual PI3K and HDAC inhibitor for PI3Kα and HDAC1/2/3/10 with IC50 of 19 nM and 1.7 nM/5 nM/1.8 nM/2.8 nM, respectively. CUDC-907 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Phase 1.

Related Targets

PI3K HDAC Apoptosis related