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Efficacy and Synergy of Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting FLT3-ITD + Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Constitutive activation of FLT3 by ITD mutations is one of the most common genetic aberrations in AML, present in ~1/3 of cases. Patients harboring FLT3-ITD display worse clinical outcomes. The integration and advancement of FLT3 TKI in AML treatment provided significant therapeutic improvement. However, due to the emergence of resistance mechanisms, FLT3-ITD+ AML remains a clinical challenge. We performed an unbiased drug screen to identify 18 compounds as particularly efficacious against FLT3-ITD+ AML. Among these, we characterized two investigational compounds, WS6 and ispinesib, and two approved drugs, ponatinib and cabozantinib, in depth. We found that WS6, although not yet investigated in oncology, shows a similar mechanism and potency as ponatinib and cabozantinib. Interestingly, ispinesib and cabozantinib prevent activation of AXL, a key driver and mechanism of drug resistance in FLT3-ITD+ AML patients. We further investigated synergies between the selected compounds and found that combination treatment with ispinesib and cabozantinib or ponatinib shows high synergy in FLT3-ITD+ AML cell lines and patient samples. Together, we suggest WS6, ispinesib, ponatinib and cabozantinib as novel options for targeting FLT3-ITD+ AML. Whether combinatorial tyrosine kinase and kinesin spindle blockade is effective in eradicating neoplastic (stem) cells in FLT3-ITD+ AML remains to be determined in clinical trials.

Related Products

Cat.No. Product Name Information
S1452 Ispinesib (SB-715992) Ispinesib (SB-715992, CK0238273) is a potent, specific and reversible inhibitor of kinesin spindle protein (KSP) with Ki app of 1.7 nM in a cell-free assay, no inhibition to CENP-E, RabK6, MCAK, MKLP1, KHC or Kif1A. Ispinesib induces mitotic arrest and apoptotic cell death.

Related Targets

Apoptosis related Kinesin