c-Myc inhibition prevents leukemia initiation in mice and impairs the growth of relapsed and induction failure pediatric T-ALL cells.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-13-2014
JAX Source
Blood 2014 Feb 13; 123(7):1040-50.
Volume
123
Issue
7
First Page
1040
Last Page
1050
ISSN
1528-0020
PMID
24394663
Abstract
Although prognosis has improved for children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), 20% to 30% of patients undergo induction failure (IF) or relapse. Leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) are hypothesized to be resistant to chemotherapy and to mediate relapse. We and others have shown that Notch1 directly regulates c-Myc, a known regulator of quiescence in stem and progenitor populations, leading us to examine whether c-Myc inhibition results in efficient targeting of T-ALL-initiating cells. We demonstrate that c-Myc suppression by small hairpin RNA or pharmacologic approaches prevents leukemia initiation in mice by eliminating LIC activity. Consistent with its anti-LIC activity in mice, treatment with the BET bromodomain BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 reduces C-MYC expression and inhibits the growth of relapsed and IF pediatric T-ALL samples in vitro. These findings demonstrate a critical role for c-Myc in LIC maintenance and provide evidence that MYC inhibition may be an effective therapy for relapsed/IF T-ALL patients. Blood 2014 Feb 13; 123(7):1040-50.
Recommended Citation
Roderick J,
Tesell J,
Shultz LD,
Brehm M,
Greiner D,
Harris M,
Silverman L,
Sallan S,
Gutierrez A,
Look A,
Qi J,
Bradner J,
Kelliher M.
c-Myc inhibition prevents leukemia initiation in mice and impairs the growth of relapsed and induction failure pediatric T-ALL cells. Blood 2014 Feb 13; 123(7):1040-50.