Title
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.
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, Justine E; Tesell, Jessica; Shultz, Leonard D.; Brehm, Michael A; Greiner, Dale L; Harris, Marian H; Silverman, Lewis B; Sallan, Stephen E; Gutierrez, Alejandro; Look, A Thomas; Qi, Jun; Bradner, James E; and Kelliher, Michelle A, "c-Myc inhibition prevents leukemia initiation in mice and impairs the growth of relapsed and induction failure pediatric T-ALL cells." (2014). Faculty Research 2014. 37.
https://mouseion.jax.org/stfb2014/37