CPX-351 exhibits potent and direct ex vivo cytotoxicity against AML blasts with enhanced efficacy for cells harboring the FLT3-ITD mutation

Max J. Gordon, Paul Tardi, Marc M. Loriaux, Stephen E. Spurgeon, Elie Traer, Tibor Kovacsovics, Lawrence D. Mayer, Jeffrey W. Tyner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose Identify AML patients most likely to respond to CPX-351, a nano-scale liposome formulation containing cytarabine and daunorubicin co-encapsulated at a 5:1 molar ratio. Methods We examined the ex vivo cytotoxic activity of CPX-351 against leukemic cells isolated from 53 AML patients and an additional 127 samples including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasms, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia/lymphoma. We assessed activity with respect to common molecular lesions and used flow cytometry to assess CPX-351 cellular uptake. Results AML specimen sensitivity to CPX-351 was similar across conventional risk groups. FLT3-ITD cases were five-fold more sensitive to CPX-351. CPX-351 was active across other indications with nearly all cases exhibiting IC50 values markedly lower than reported 72-h plasma drug concentration in patients receiving CPX-351. The range and distribution of CPX-351 IC50 values were comparable for AML, CLL, and ALL, whereas MDS/MPN cases were less sensitive. CPX-351 uptake analysis revealed a correlation between uptake of CPX-351 and cytotoxic potency. Conclusions Our findings are consistent with clinical data, in which CPX-351 activity is retained in high-risk AML patients. Ex vivo analysis of cytotoxic potency may provide a means to identify specific AML subsets, such as FLT3-ITD, that benefit most from CPX-351 and warrant additional clinical evaluation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)39-49
Number of pages11
JournalLeukemia Research
Volume53
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2017

Keywords

  • CPX-351
  • Cytarabine
  • Cytotoxicity
  • Daunorubicin
  • Leukemia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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