Q2 · MEDICINE
Article
Author: van Krieken, J. Han ; Bhagat, Govind ; Dybkaer, Karen ; You, Hua ; Hsi, Eric D. ; Wang, Xudong ; Tam, Wayne ; Parsons, Benjamin M. ; Liu, Phillip ; Xu-Monette, Zijun Y. ; Deng, Manman ; Piris, Miguel A. ; Xu, Bing ; Ferreri, Andrés J.M. ; Fang, Xiaosheng ; Huh, Jooryung ; Young, Ken H. ; Ponzoni, Maurilio ; Visco, Carlo ; Zu, Youli ; Chiu, April ; Hagemeister, Fredrick ; Winter, Jane N. ; Pham, Lan V. ; Møller, Michael B. ; Li, Yong ; Zhu, Feng ; Tzankov, Alexandar
AbstractDiffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the major type of aggressive B-cell lymphoma. High-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBCL) with MYC/BCL2 double-hit (DH) represents a distinct entity with dismal prognosis after standard immunochemotherapy in the current WHO lymphoma classification. However, whether TP53 mutation synergizes with MYC abnormalities (MYC rearrangement and/or Myc protein overexpression) contributing to HGBCL-like biology and prognosis is not well investigated. In this study, patients with DLBCL with MYC/TP53 abnormalities demonstrated poor clinical outcome, high-grade morphology, and distinct gene expression signatures. To identify more effective therapies for this distinctive DLBCL subset, novel MYC/TP53/BCL-2–targeted agents were investigated in DLBCL cells with MYC/TP53 dual alterations or HGBCL-MYC/BCL2-DH. A BET inhibitor INCB057643 effectively inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in DLBCL/HGBCL cells regardless of MYC/BCL2/TP53 status. Combining INCB057643 with a MDM2-p53 inhibitor DS3032b significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effects in HGBCL-DH without TP53 mutation, while combining with the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax displayed potent therapeutic synergy in DLBCL/HGBCL cells with and without concurrent TP53 mutation. Reverse-phase protein arrays revealed the synergistic molecular actions by INCB057643, DS3032b and venetoclax to induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis and to inhibit AKT/MEK/ERK/mTOR pathways, as well as potential drug resistance mechanisms mediated by upregulation of Mcl-1 and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathways. In summary, these findings support subclassification of DLBCL/HGBCL with dual MYC/TP53 alterations, which demonstrates distinct pathobiologic features and dismal survival with standard therapy, therefore requiring additional targeted therapies.Implications:The clinical and pharmacologic studies suggest recognizing DLBCL with concomitant TP53 mutation and MYC abnormalities as a distinctive entity necessary for precision oncology practice.Visual Overview:http://mcr.aacrjournals.org.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/content/molcanres/19/2/249/F1.large.jpg.