Therapeutic Targeting of MERTK and BCL-2 in T-Cell and Early T-Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Ryan J. Summers, Juhi Jain, Eleana Vasileiadi, Brittany Smith, Madison L. Chimenti, Tsz Y. Yeung, James Kelvin, Xiaodong Wang, Stephen V. Frye, H. Shelton Earp, Jeffrey W. Tyner, Erik C. Dreaden, Deborah DeRyckere, Douglas K. Graham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) accounts for 15% of childhood ALL. The early T-precursor (ETP-ALL) subset is characterized by an immature T-cell phenotype, chemoresistance, and high rates of induction failure. MERTK receptor tyrosine kinase is ectopically expressed in half of T-ALLs, particularly those with an immature T-cell phenotype, suggesting a role in ETP-ALL. The anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) is essential for ETP-ALL cell survival. Here, we show that MERTK and BCL-2 mRNA and protein are preferentially expressed in ETP-ALL patient samples. The dual MERTK/FLT3 inhibitor MRX-2843 decreased MERTK activation and downstream signaling, inhibited cell expansion, and induced cell death in ETP-ALL cell lines. Further, 54% (21/39) of primary T-ALL patient samples were sensitive to MERTK inhibition. Treatment with MRX-2843 significantly reduced leukemia burden and prolonged survival in cell-line-derived T-ALL and ETP-ALL xenograft models. In a patient-derived ETP-ALL xenograft model, treatment with MRX-2843 markedly reduced peripheral blood leukemia and spleen weight compared to vehicle-treated mice and prolonged survival. MRX-2843 also synergized with venetoclax to provide enhanced anti-leukemia activity in ETP-ALL cell cultures, with a dose ratio of 1:20 MRX-2843:venetoclax providing optimal synergy. These data demonstrate the therapeutic potential of MRX-2843 in patients with T-ALL and provide rationale for clinical development. MRX-2843 monotherapy is currently being tested in patients with relapsed leukemia (NCT04872478). Further, our data indicate that combined MERTK and BCL-2 inhibition may be particularly effective for treatment of ETP-ALL.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number6142
JournalCancers
Volume14
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • BCL-2
  • ETP-ALL
  • MERTK
  • MRX-2843
  • small molecule inhibitor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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