AKT is a therapeutic target in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Leukemia. 2013 Sep;27(9):1882-90. doi: 10.1038/leu.2013.167. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

The majority of patients with BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) harbor mutations in JAK2 or MPL, which lead to constitutive activation of the JAK/STAT, PI3K and ERK signaling pathways. JAK inhibitors by themselves are inadequate in producing selective clonal suppression in MPN and are associated with hematopoietic toxicities. MK-2206 is a potent allosteric AKT inhibitor that was well tolerated, including no evidence of myelosuppression, in a phase I study of solid tumors. Herein, we show that inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling by MK-2206 affected the growth of both JAK2V617F- or MPLW515L-expressing cells via reduced phosphorylation of AKT and inhibition of its downstream signaling molecules. Moreover, we demonstrate that MK-2206 synergizes with ruxolitinib in suppressing the growth of JAK2V617F-mutant SET2 cells. Importantly, MK-2206 suppressed colony formation from hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with primary myelofibrosis and alleviated hepatosplenomegaly and reduced megakaryocyte burden in the bone marrows, livers and spleens of mice with MPLW515L-induced MPN. Together, these findings establish AKT as a rational therapeutic target in the MPNs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / deficiency
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / pharmacology
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Janus Kinase 2 / genetics
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Megakaryocytes / drug effects
  • Megakaryocytes / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / drug therapy
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / genetics
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / metabolism*
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / metabolism

Substances

  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • MK 2206
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • Janus Kinase 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt