Preclinical analysis of the γ-secretase inhibitor PF-03084014 in combination with glucocorticoids in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

JB Samon, M Castillo-Martin, M Hadler… - Molecular cancer …, 2012 - AACR
JB Samon, M Castillo-Martin, M Hadler, A Ambesi-Impiobato, E Paietta, J Racevskis…
Molecular cancer therapeutics, 2012AACR
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) and lymphomas are aggressive hematologic
cancers frequently associated with activating mutations in NOTCH1. Early studies identified
NOTCH1 as an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of T-ALL through the use of γ-
secretase inhibitors (GSI). Here, we characterized the interaction between PF-03084014, a
clinically relevant GSI, and dexamethasone in preclinical models of glucocorticoid-resistant
T-ALL. Combination treatment of the GSI PF-03084014 with glucocorticoids induced a …
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) and lymphomas are aggressive hematologic cancers frequently associated with activating mutations in NOTCH1. Early studies identified NOTCH1 as an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of T-ALL through the use of γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI). Here, we characterized the interaction between PF-03084014, a clinically relevant GSI, and dexamethasone in preclinical models of glucocorticoid-resistant T-ALL. Combination treatment of the GSI PF-03084014 with glucocorticoids induced a synergistic antileukemic effect in human T-ALL cell lines and primary human T-ALL patient samples. Mechanistically PF-03084014 plus glucocorticoid treatment induced increased transcriptional upregulation of the glucocorticoid receptor and glucocorticoid target genes. Treatment with PF-03084014 and glucocorticoids in combination was highly efficacious in vivo, with enhanced reduction of tumor burden in a xenograft model of T-ALL. Finally, glucocorticoid treatment effectively reversed PF-03084014–induced gastrointestinal toxicity via inhibition of goblet cell metaplasia. These results warrant the analysis of PF-03084014 and glucocorticoids in combination for the treatment of glucocorticoid-resistant T-ALL. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(7); 1565–75. ©2012 AACR.
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