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Flavopiridol enhances ABT-199 sensitivity in unfavourable-risk multiple myeloma cells in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND:

The BCL-2-specific BH3-mimetic ABT-199 (venetoclax) has been reported to be principally active against favourable-risk multiple myeloma (MM) cells, prompting efforts to extend its activity to include more resistant, higher-risk MM subsets.

METHODS:

Effects of the CDK9 inhibitor flavopiridol (FP; alvocidib) on responses to ABT-199 were examined in MM cells. Cell death and protein expression were evaluated by western blot and immunofluorescence. Xenograft models were used to study combination effects in vivo.

RESULTS:

FP synergistically increased ABT-199 lethality in both ABT-199-sensitive and insensitive MM cells. FP blocked CDK9 activation/positive transcription elongation factor B phosphorylation, downregulated MCL-1, increased BCL-2/MCL-1 ratios, and upregulated BIM. MCL-1 ectopic expression or knockdown in MM cells significantly diminished or increased ABT-199 sensitivity, respectively. CDK9 knockdown triggered MCL-1 downregulation and increased ABT-199 activity, whereas BIM knockdown significantly reduced FP/ABT-199lethality. FP also enhanced ABT-199 lethality in unfavourable prognosis primary MM cells. HS-5 cell co-culture failed to protect MM cells from the FP/ABT-199 regimen, suggesting circumvention of microenvironmental signals. Finally, FP/ABT-199 significantly increased survival in systemic xenograft and immune-competent MM models while exhibiting minimal toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings argue that CDK9 inhibitors, for example, FP may increase the antimyeloma activity of ABT-199, including in unfavourable-risk MM minimally responsive to ABT-199 alone.

Related Products

Cat.No. Product Name Information
S8048 Venetoclax (ABT-199) Venetoclax (ABT-199, GDC-0199) is a Bcl-2-selective inhibitor with Ki of <0.01 nM in cell-free assays, >4800-fold more selective versus Bcl-xL and Bcl-w, and no activity to Mcl-1. Venetoclax is reported to induce cell growth suppression, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagy in triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Phase 3.

Related Targets

Bcl-2