The clinically active BTK inhibitor PCI-32765 targets B-cell receptor- and chemokine-controlled adhesion and migration in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Blood. 2012 Mar 15;119(11):2590-4. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-11-390989. Epub 2012 Jan 25.

Abstract

Small-molecule drugs that target the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) signalosome show clinical efficacy in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These agents, including the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor PCI-32765, display an unexpected response in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): a rapid and sustained reduction of lymphadenopathy accompanied by transient lymphocytosis, which is reversible upon temporary drug deprivation. We hypothesized that this clinical response reflects impaired integrin-mediated adhesion and/or migration. Here, we show that PCI-32765 strongly inhibits BCR-controlled signaling and integrin α(4)β(1)-mediated adhesion to fibronectin and VCAM-1 of lymphoma cell lines and primary CLL cells. Furthermore, PCI-32765 also inhibits CXCL12-, CXCL13-, and CCL19-induced signaling, adhesion, and migration of primary CLL cells. Our data indicate that inhibition of BTK by PCI-32765 overcomes BCR- and chemokine-controlled integrin-mediated retention and homing of malignant B cells in their growth- and survival-supporting lymph node and bone marrow microenvironment, which results in clinically evident CLL regression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / analogs & derivatives
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects*
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chemokines / metabolism*
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha4beta1 / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Piperidines
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Chemokines
  • Fibronectins
  • Integrin alpha4beta1
  • Piperidines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • ibrutinib
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • BTK protein, human
  • Adenine