Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0596978 (Leukemia)
 15,069 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

By inhibiting the tyrosine kinase (TK) activity of Bcr-Abl, STI-571 induces differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60/Bcr-Abl (with ectopic expression of p185 Bcr-Abl) and K562 (containing endogenous expression of p210 Bcr-Abl) but not of the control HL-60 cells. Treatment with arsenic trioxide (As2O3) lowers Bcr-Abl protein levels and induces apoptosis of the Bcr-Abl-positive leukemic blasts (Blood 2000; 95: 1014). Here, we demonstrate that compared to treatment with STI-571 (0.25 to 1.0 microM) or As2O3 (0.5 to 2.0 microM) alone, combined treatment with As2O3 and STI-571 induced significantly more apoptosis of HL-60/Bcr-Abl and K562 but not HL-60/neo cells (P < 0.05). Combined treatment with As2O3 and STI-571 also resulted in greater reductions in the levels of Bcl-x(L), XIAP and Akt, and inhibition of Akt kinase activity. Co-treatment with As2O3 inhibited STI-571-induced hemoglobin, which was associated with the cleavage and downregulation of GATA-1 transcription factor involved in erythroid differentiation. These data demonstrate that a treatment strategy which combines an agent that lowers Bcr-Abl levels, eg As2O3, with an agent that inhibits Bcr-Abl TK activity, eg STI-571, can potently induce apoptosis and differentiation of Bcr-Abl-positive human leukemic cells.
Leukemia 2001 May
PMID:Co-treatment with As2O3 enhances selective cytotoxic effects of STI-571 against Brc-Abl-positive acute leukemia cells. 1136 38

FLT3 is a member of the type III receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. These receptors all contain an intrinsic tyrosine kinase domain that is critical to signaling. Aberrant expression of the FLT3 gene has been documented in both adult and childhood leukemias including AML, ALL and CML. In addition, 17-27% of pediatric and adult patients with AML have small internal tandem duplication mutations in FLT3. Patients expressing the mutant form of the receptor have been shown to have a decreased chance for cure. Our previous study, using a constitutively activated FLT3, demonstrated transformation of Ba/F3 cells and leukemic development in an animal model. Thus, there is accumulating evidence for a role for FLT3 in human leukemias. This has prompted us to search for inhibitors of FLT3 as a possible therapeutic approach in these patients. AG1296 is a compound of the tyrphostin class that is known to selectively inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of the PDGF and KIT receptors. Since FLT3 is a close relative of KIT, we wanted to test the possible inhibitory activity of AG1296 on FLT3. In transfected Ba/F3 cells, AG1296 selectively and potently inhibited autophosphorylation of FL-stimulated wild-type and constitutively activated FLT3. Treatment by AG1296 abolished IL-3-independent proliferation of Ba/F3 cells expressing the constitutively activated FLT3 and thus, reversed the transformation mediated by activated FLT3. Inhibition of FLT3 activity by AG1296 in cells transformed by activated FLT3 resulted in apoptotic cell death, with no deleterious effect on their parental counterparts. Addition of IL-3 rescued the growth of cells expressing activated FLT3 in the presence of AG1296. This demonstrates that the inhibition is specific to the FLT3 pathway in that it leaves the kinases of the IL-3 pathway and other kinases further downstream involved in proliferation intact. Several proteins phosphorylated by the activated FLT3 signaling pathway, including STAT 5A, STAT 5B and CBL, were no longer phosphorylated when these cells were treated with AG1296. The activity against FLT3 suggests a potential therapeutic application for AG1296 or similar drugs in the treatment of leukemias involving deregulated FLT3 tyrosine kinase activity and as a tool for studying the biology of FLT3.
Leukemia 2001 Jul
PMID:Inhibition of FLT3-mediated transformation by use of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. 1145 67

Our previous report (T. Hayashibara et al., Leukemia, 13: 1634-1635, 1999) revealed a possible link between high plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration and leukemic cell invasion in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). However, the biological mechanism of this link has not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to address that mechanism. Our present observations showed that VEGF mRNA was expressed in ATL cell lines. The corresponding protein was secreted into the extracellular environment, which suggested that the major source of plasma VEGF is ATL cells themselves. More interestingly, all of the cell lines examined were found to express the mRNA and protein for fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1), which is one of the receptors for VEGF. Cytofluorometric analysis demonstrated the VEGF binding potency of these cells. In clinical specimens, expression of VEGF and Flt-1 mRNAs was detected in all (100%) of 11 and 8 (73%) of 11 ATL patients, respectively. Cytofluorometric analysis revealed that VEGF effectively bound only to Flt-1-expressing cells. These findings are highly suggestive of an autocrine pathway involving VEGF operating in ATL. The proliferation of ATL cell lines was not affected by treatment with an anti-VEGF antibody or exogenous VEGF, which indicated that VEGF has no mitogenic effect on ATL cells. In contrast, we made the interesting finding that treatment with exogenous VEGF enhanced the chemotactic activities of some ATL cell lines, which may play a key role in ATL cell invasion. Collectively, these data lead us to propose a possible autocrine mechanism involving VEGF operating by way of Flt-1, in which ATL cells up-regulate their own chemotaxis to facilitate their invasion into various organs.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor and cellular chemotaxis: a possible autocrine pathway in adult T-cell leukemia cell invasion. 1155 84

In hematopoietic cells, the Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase that is encoded by the Philadelphia chromosome translocation both stimulates proliferation and activates an anti-apoptotic program that is associated with a G2/M delay upon exposure to various apoptotic stimuli. We recently reported that the monocyclic monoterpene, perillyl alcohol (POH) selectively induces in Bcr/Abl transformed cells, G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis. Therefore, POH activates anti-proliferative and apoptotic pathways against which the Bcr/Abl kinase does not protect. In this report, we show that in Bcr/Abl-transformed cells, POH induces cytoplasmic acidification, redistribution of phosphatidylserine in the plasma membrane along with DNA fragmentation, all of which can be prevented by the phorbol ester, TPA. The ability of TPA to protect against POH-induced cytotoxicity was blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and the Na(+)/H(+) antiport. In contrast, TPA does not protect the cells from POH-mediated G0/G1 arrest. While POH inhibits a distal step in the mevalonate biosynthesis pathway, lovastatin, also a potential anticancer agent, inhibits the initial step in this pathway. Not surprisingly, lovastatin also induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in Bcr/Abl-transformed cells, however, TPA protects cells from both apoptosis and G0/G1 arrest caused by lovastatin. Thus, in Bcr/Abl-transformed cells, POH and lovastatin cause growth arrest by different mechanisms. Together, these observations demonstrate that POH-mediated cell cycle arrest precedes apoptosis and raises the possibility that that the primary effect of POH is to induce G0/G1 arrest with apoptosis being a consequence of the growth arrest.
Leukemia 2002 Feb
PMID:Antileukemia activity of perillyl alcohol (POH): uncoupling apoptosis from G0/G1 arrest suggests that the primary effect of POH on Bcr/Abl-transformed cells is to induce growth arrest. 1184 Feb 88

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and fetal liver tyrosine kinase-3 (Flt3) ligand (FL) act in synergy to induce expansion and mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Regulation of mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways and gene transcription, induced by these cytokines were examined using the OCI-AML5 cell line. For this purpose, FL and G-CSF were used either alone, or in combination as the co-addition of FL and G-CSF (FL+G-CSF), or a chimeric molecule, progenipoietin-1 (ProGP-1). Both G-CSF and FL induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) while p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase was phosphorylated only in response to G-CSF but not FL. Studies using specific kinase inhibitors suggested that both ERK and p38 MAP kinase pathways were required for the optimal cell proliferation in response to both G-CSF and FL. The magnitude of activation of the ERK pathway and induction of genes involved in cell cycle progression by G-CSF and FL exhibited a strong correlation with the degree of cell proliferation. These data suggest that OCI-AML5 cells proliferate at least in part, due to the activation of both ERK and p38 MAP kinase pathways in response to G-CSF and FL. This study represents the first report of the specific cell cycle genes induced by FL.
Leukemia 2002 Feb
PMID:Extracellular signal-regulated kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways cooperate in mediating cytokine-induced proliferation of a leukemic cell line. 1184 Feb 91

The leukemogenic property of BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is critically dependent on its protein tyrosine kinase activity. STI571 inhibits the BCR-ABL kinase activity, the growth and the viability of BCR-ABL expressing cells. In this study, we report the apoptotic effect of STI571 in combination with daunorubicin (DNR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 CML patients and four BCR-ABL-positive cell lines: AR230, LAMA84, K562 and KCL22. Primary blast cells were identified by flow cytometry on the basis of their low CD45 expression. Nucleus fragmentation, exposure of phosphatidylserines and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential were measured using acridine orange, FITC-annexin V and DiOC6(3), respectively, to evaluate apoptosis. On cell lines, the effect of DNR was negligible, whereas STI571 induced 10 to 35% of apoptosis in 18 h. STI571 sensitized AR230, LAMA84 and K562 cells to DNR when apoptosis was measured at the mitochondrial and membrane but not the nuclear levels. On CML blast cells, phosphatidyl serine exposure was significantly induced by both DNR and STI571 and was higher when these drugs were used in combination (P < 0.0003). However, the effects of this drug combination were only additive and no sensitization of blast cells to DNR by STI571 was observed. Interestingly, sensitization was evidenced in CML but not normal lymphocytes. These results suggest that other mechanisms additional to Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase activity could be responsible for DNR resistance, and further investigations are needed to understand its origin.
Leukemia 2002 Jun
PMID:Resistance to daunorubicin-induced apoptosis is not completely reversed in CML blast cells by STI571. 1204 Apr 47

With the exception of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPDs) are a heterogeneous spectrum of conditions for which the molecular pathogenesis is not well understood. Most cases have a normal or aneuploid karyotype, but a minority present with a reciprocal translocation that disrupts specific tyrosine kinase genes, most commonly PDGFRB or FGFR1. These translocations result in the production of constitutively active tyrosine kinase fusion proteins that deregulate hemopoiesis in a manner analogous to BCR-ABL. With the advent of targeted signal transduction therapy, an accurate clinical and molecular diagnosis of CMPDs has become increasingly important. Currently, patients with PDGFRB or ABL fusion genes are candidates for treatment with Imatinib (STI571), but it is likely that alternative strategies will be necessary for the treatment of most other patients.
Leukemia 2002 Jul
PMID:Tyrosine kinase fusion genes in chronic myeloproliferative diseases. 1209 44

The TEL/JAK2 chromosomal translocation (t(9;12)(p24;p13)) is associated with T cell childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The TEL/JAK2 fusion protein contains the JAK2 catalytic domain and the TEL-specific oligomerization domain. TEL-mediated oligomerization of the TEL/JAK2 proteins results in the constitutive activation of the tyrosine kinase activity. Leukemia cells expressing TEL/JAK2 tyrosine kinase become resistant to anti-neoplastic drugs. Amifostine is a pro-drug which can selectively protect normal tissues against the toxicity of anticancer drugs and radiation. We investigated the effects of amifostine on idarubicin-induced DNA damage and repair in murine pro-B lymphoid BaF3 cells and BaF3-TEL/JAK2-transformed cells using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Idarubicin induced DNA damage in both cell types but amifostine reduced its extent in control non-transformed BaF3 cells and enhanced it in TEL/JAK2-transformed cells. The transformed cells did not show measurable DNA repair after exposure to amifostine and idarubicin, but cells treated only with idarubicin were able to recover within a 60-min incubation. Because TEL/JAK2-transformed cells can be considered as model cells for certain human leukemias and lymphomas we anticipate an enhancement of idarubicin cytotoxicity by amifostine in these diseases. Moreover, TEL/JAK2 tyrosine kinase might be involved in cellular response to DNA damage. Amifostine could promote apoptosis or lower the threshold for apoptosis induction dependent on TEL/JAK2 activation.
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PMID:TEL/JAK2 tyrosine kinase inhibits DNA repair in the presence of amifostine. 1213 32

Aberrant expression and activating mutations of the class III receptor tyrosine kinase Flt3 (Flk-2, STK-1) have been linked to poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Inhibitors of Flt3 tyrosine kinase activity are, therefore, of interest as potential therapeutic compounds. We previously described bis(1H-2-indolyl)-1-methanones as a novel class of selective inhibitors for platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR). Several bis(1H-2-indolyl)-1-methanone derivatives, represented by the compounds D-64406 and D-65476, are also potent inhibitors of Flt3. They inhibit proliferation of TEL-Flt3-transfected BA/F3 cells with IC(50) values of 0.2-0.3 microM in the absence of IL-3 but >10 microM in the presence of IL-3. Ligand-stimulated autophosphorylation of Flt3 in EOL-1 cells and corresponding downstream activation of Akt/PKB are effectively inhibited by bis(1H-2-indolyl)-1-methanones whereas autophosphorylation of c-Kit/SCF receptor or c-Fms/CSF-1 receptor is less sensitive or insensitive, respectively. Flt3 kinase purified by different methods is potently inhibited in vitro, demonstrating a direct mechanism of inhibition. 32D cells, expressing a constitutively active Flt3 variant with internal tandem duplication are greatly sensitized to radiation-induced apoptosis in the presence of D-64406 or D-65476 in the absence but not in the presence of IL-3. Thus, bis(1H-2-indolyl)-1-methanones are potential candidates for the treatment of Flt3-driven leukemias.
Leukemia 2002 Aug
PMID:Bis(1H-2-indolyl)-1-methanones as inhibitors of the hematopoietic tyrosine kinase Flt3. 1214 94

The degree of tumor load reduction as measured by cytogenetic response is an important prognostic factor for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients on therapy. We sought to determine whether BCR-ABL transcript levels can predict chromosomal response. Residual disease was evaluated in 120 CML patients in chronic phase (CP) treated with the selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib after resistance or intolerance to interferon alpha (IFN). Median time of therapy was 401 days (range 111-704). BCR-ABL and total ABL transcripts were measured in 486 peripheral blood (PB) specimens with a real time RT-PCR approach using fluorescent-labeled hybridization probes (LightCycler technology) and results were expressed as the ratio BCR-ABL/ABL. Cytogenetic response was determined in 3-monthly intervals: From 101 evaluable patients, 42 achieved a complete (CR, 0% Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)- positive metaphases), 18 a partial (PR, 1-34% Ph+), 13 a minor (MR, 35-94% Ph+), and 26 no response (NR, >94% Ph+). All PB samples were RT-PCR positive. The proportion of Ph+ metaphases and simultaneous BCR-ABL/ABL ratios correlated with r = 0.74, P < 0.0001. In order to investigate whether early molecular analysis may predict cytogenetic response, quantitative RT-PCR data obtained after 1 and 2 months of therapy were compared with cytogenetic response at 6 months. BCR-ABL/ABL ratios after 1 month were not predictive, but results after 2 months correlated with the consecutive cytogenetic response (P = 0.0008). The probability for a major cytogenetic response was significantly higher in patients with a BCR-ABL/ABL ratio <20% after 2 months of imatinib therapy. We conclude that: (1) quantitative determination of residual disease with real time RT-PCR is a reliable and sensitive method to monitor CML patients on imatinib therapy; (2) BCR-ABL/ABL ratios correlate well with cytogenetic response; (3) in IFN-pretreated patients all complete responders to imatinib have evidence of residual disease with the limited follow-up available; and (4) cytogenetic response at 6 months of therapy in CP patients is predictable with real time RT-PCR at 2 months.
Leukemia 2002 Sep
PMID:Early reduction of BCR-ABL mRNA transcript levels predicts cytogenetic response in chronic phase CML patients treated with imatinib after failure of interferon alpha. 1220 Jun 66


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