FLT3-ITD-TKD dual mutants associated with AML confer resistance to FLT3 PTK inhibitors and cytotoxic agents by overexpression of Bcl-x(L)

• Published in: Blood 2005-05, Vol.105 (9), p.3679-3685
• Main Authors: Bagrintseva, Ksenia, Geisenhof, Stefanie, Kern, Ruth, Eichenlaub, Sabine, Reindl, Carola, Ellwart, Joachim W., Hiddemann, Wolfgang, Spiekermann, Karsten
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Animals; Antineoplastic agents; bcl-X Protein; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Chemotherapy; DNA-Binding Proteins - drug effects; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - drug effects; Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Mice; Milk Proteins - drug effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Point Mutation; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - genetics; Rad51 Recombinase; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - genetics; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - pharmacology; STAT5 Transcription Factor; Tandem Repeat Sequences; Trans-Activators - drug effects; Transfection; Up-Regulation - drug effects
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood-2004-06-2459

FLT3 (fms-like tyrosine kinase 3) is constitutively activated in about 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and represents a disease-specific molecular marker. Although FLT3-LM (length mutation) and TKD (tyrosine kinase domain) mutations have been considered to be mutually exclusive, 1% to 2% of patients carry both mutations. However, the functional and clinical significance of this observation is unclear. We demonstrate that FLT3-ITD-TKD dual mutants induce drug resistance toward PTK inhibitors and cytotoxic agents in in vitro model systems. As molecular mechanisms of resistance, we found that FLT3-ITD-TKD mutants cause hyperactivation of STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-5), leading to upregulation of Bcl-x(L) and RAD51 and arrest in the G2M phase of the cell cycle. Overexpression of Bcl-x(L) was identified as the critical mediator of drug resistance and recapitulates the PTK inhibitor and daunorubicin-resistant phenotype in FLT3-ITD cells. The combination of rapamycin, a selective mTOR inhibitor, and FLT3 PTK inhibitors restored the drug sensitivity in FLT3 dual mutant–expressing cells. Our data provide the molecular basis for understanding clinical FLT3 PTK inhibitor resistance and point to therapeutical strategies to overcome drug resistance in patients with AML.