1. Dual targeting of p53 and c-MYC selectively eliminates leukaemic stem cells
- Author
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Abraham, SA, Hopcroft, LEM, Carrick, E, Drotar, ME, Dunn, K, Williamson, AJK, Korfi, K, Baquero, P, Park, LE, Scott, MT, Pellicano, F, Pierce, A, Copland, M, Nourse, C, Grimmond, SM, Vetrie, D, Whetton, AD, Holyoake, TL, Abraham, SA, Hopcroft, LEM, Carrick, E, Drotar, ME, Dunn, K, Williamson, AJK, Korfi, K, Baquero, P, Park, LE, Scott, MT, Pellicano, F, Pierce, A, Copland, M, Nourse, C, Grimmond, SM, Vetrie, D, Whetton, AD, and Holyoake, TL
- Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) arises after transformation of a haemopoietic stem cell (HSC) by the protein-tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL. Direct inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase has revolutionized disease management, but fails to eradicate leukaemic stem cells (LSCs), which maintain CML. LSCs are independent of BCR-ABL for survival, providing a rationale for identifying and targeting kinase-independent pathways. Here we show--using proteomics, transcriptomics and network analyses--that in human LSCs, aberrantly expressed proteins, in both imatinib-responder and non-responder patients, are modulated in concert with p53 (also known as TP53) and c-MYC regulation. Perturbation of both p53 and c-MYC, and not BCR-ABL itself, leads to synergistic cell kill, differentiation, and near elimination of transplantable human LSCs in mice, while sparing normal HSCs. This unbiased systems approach targeting connected nodes exemplifies a novel precision medicine strategy providing evidence that LSCs can be eradicated.
- Published
- 2016