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Direct P70S6K1 inhibition to replace dexamethasone in synergistic combination with MCL-1 inhibition in multiple myeloma

Novel combination therapies have markedly improved the lifespan of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but drug resistance and disease relapse remain major clinical problems. Dexamethasone and other glucocorticoids are a cornerstone of conventional and new combination therapies for MM, although their use is accompanied by serious side effects. We aimed to uncover drug combinations that act in synergy and, as such, allow reduced dosing while remaining effective. Dexamethasone and the myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) inhibitor S63845 (MCL-1i) proved the most potent combination in our lethality screen and induced apoptosis of human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) that was 50% higher compared with an additive drug effect. Kinome analysis of dexamethasone-treated HMCLs revealed a reduction in serine/threonine peptide phosphorylation, which was predicted to result from reduced Akt activity. Biochemical techniques showed no dexamethasone-induced effects on FOXO protein or GSK3 but did show a 50% reduction in P70S6K phosphorylation, downstream of the Akt-mTORC1 axis. Replacing dexamethasone by the P70S6K1 isoform-specific inhibitor PF-4708671 (S6K1i) revealed similar and statistically significant synergistic apoptosis of HMCLs in combination with MCL-1i. Interestingly, apoptosis induced by the P70S6K1i and MCL-1i combination was more-than-additive in all 9 primary MM samples tested; this effect was observed for 6 of 9 samples with the dexamethasone and MCL-1i combination. Toxicity on stem and progenitor cell subsets remained minimal. Combined, our results show a strong rationale for combination treatments using the P70S6K inhibitor in MM. Direct and specific inhibition of P70S6K may also provide a solution for patients ineligible or insensitive to dexamethasone or other glucocorticoids.

Related Products

Cat.No. Product Name Information
S2163 PF-4708671 PF-4708671 is a cell-permeable inhibitor of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K1 isoform) with Ki/IC50 of 20 nM/160 nM in cell-free assays, 400-fold greater selectivity for S6K1 than S6K2, and 4- and >20-fold selectivity for S6K1 than MSK1 and RSK1/2, respectively. PF-4708671 induces autophagy. First S6K1-specific inhibitor to be reported.

Related Targets

Autophagy S6 Kinase