Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2024

Keywords

JGM, RNA Splicing Factors, Animals, Mice, Exportin 1 Protein, Humans, Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear, Karyopherins, Mutation, Triazoles, Active Transport, Cell Nucleus, Phosphoproteins, Sulfonamides, Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic, Hydrazines, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, RNA Transport, Apoptosis, bcl-X Protein, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2

JAX Source

Leukemia. 2024;38(9):1894-905.

ISSN

1476-5551

PMID

38997434

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-024-02328-1

Abstract

SF3B1 mutations frequently occur in cancer yet lack targeted therapies. Clinical trials of XPO1 inhibitors, selinexor and eltanexor, in high-risk myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) revealed responders were enriched with SF3B1 mutations. Given that XPO1 (Exportin-1) is a nuclear exporter responsible for the export of proteins and multiple RNA species, this led to the hypothesis that SF3B1-mutant cells are sensitive to XPO1 inhibition, potentially due to altered splicing. Subsequent RNA sequencing after XPO1 inhibition in SF3B1 wildtype and mutant cells showed increased nuclear retention of RNA transcripts and increased alternative splicing in the SF3B1 mutant cells particularly of genes that impact apoptotic pathways. To identify novel drug combinations that synergize with XPO1 inhibition, a forward genetic screen was performed with eltanexor treatment implicating anti-apoptotic targets BCL2 and BCLXL, which were validated by functional testing in vitro and in vivo. These targets were tested in vivo using Sf3b1K700E conditional knock- in mice, which showed that the combination of eltanexor and venetoclax (BCL2 inhibitor) had a preferential sensitivity for SF3B1 mutant cells without excessive toxicity. In this study, we unveil the mechanisms underlying sensitization to XPO1 inhibition in SF3B1-mutant MDS and preclinically rationalize the combination of eltanexor and venetoclax for high-risk MDS.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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