Human bone marrow niche chemoprotection mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes

Oncotarget. 2015 Jun 20;6(17):14905-12. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.3614.

Abstract

Substantial evidence now demonstrates that interactions between the tumor microenvironment and malignant cells are a critical component of clinical drug resistance. However, the mechanisms responsible for microenvironment-mediated chemoprotection remain unclear. We showed that bone marrow (BM) stromal cytochrome P450 (CYP)26 enzymes protect normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from the pro-differentiation effects of retinoic acid. Here, we investigated if stromal expression of CYPs is a general mechanism of chemoprotection. We found that similar to human hepatocytes, human BM-derived stromal cells expressed a variety of drug-metabolizing enzymes. CYP3A4, the liver's major drug-metabolizing enzyme, was at least partially responsible for BM stroma's ability to protect multiple myeloma (MM) and leukemia cells from bortezomib and etoposide, respectively, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, clarithromycin overcame stromal-mediated MM resistance to dexamethasone, suggesting that CYP3A4 inhibition plays a role in its ability to augment the activity of lenalidomide and dexamethasone as part of the BiRd regimen. We uncovered a novel mechanism of microenvironment-mediated drug resistance, whereby the BM niche creates a sanctuary site from drugs. Targeting these sanctuaries holds promise for eliminating minimal residual tumor and improving cancer outcomes.

Keywords: CYP; drug resistance; leukemia; microenvironment; multiple myeloma.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Bone Marrow / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow / metabolism*
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics*
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / deficiency
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit / genetics
  • Lenalidomide
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Thalidomide / analogs & derivatives
  • Thalidomide / metabolism
  • Thalidomide / pharmacology
  • Tretinoin / metabolism
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Il2rg protein, mouse
  • Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit
  • Thalidomide
  • Tretinoin
  • Dexamethasone
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Lenalidomide