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FLT3-ITD is the most predominant mutation in AML being expressed in about one-third of AML patients and is associated with a poor prognosis. Efforts to better understand FLT3-ITD downstream signaling to possibly improve therapy response are needed. We have previously described FLT3-ITD-dependent phosphorylation of CSF2RB, the common receptor beta chain of IL-3, IL-5, and GM-CSF, and therefore examined its significance for FLT3-ITD-dependent oncogenic signaling and transformation. We discovered that FLT3-ITD directly binds to CSF2RB in AML cell lines and blasts isolated from AML patients. A knockdown of CSF2RB in FLT3-ITD positive AML cell lines as well as in a xenograft model decreased STAT5 phosphorylation, attenuated cell proliferation, and sensitized to FLT3 inhibition. Bone marrow from CSF2RB-deficient mice transfected with FLT3-ITD displayed decreased colony formation capacity and delayed disease onset together with increased survival upon transplantation into lethally irradiated mice. FLT3-ITD-dependent CSF2RB phosphorylation required phosphorylation of the FLT3 juxtamembrane domain at tyrosines 589 or 591, whereas the ITD insertion site and sequence were of no relevance. Our results demonstrate that CSF2RB participates in FLT3-ITD-dependent oncogenic signaling and transformation in vitro and in vivo. Thus, CSF2RB constitutes a rational treatment target in FLT3-ITD-positive AML.

Autophagy is a genetically regulated process of adaptation to metabolic stress and was recently shown to be involved in the treatment response of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, in vivo data are limited and the molecular mechanism of autophagy regulators in the process of leukemogenesis is not completely understood. Here we show that Beclin-1 knockdown, but not Atg5 deletion in a murine CML model leads to a reduced leukemic burden and results in a significantly prolonged median survival of targeted mice. Further analyses of murine cell lines and primary patient material indicate that active BCR-ABL directly interacts with BECLIN-1 and phosphorylates its tyrosine residues 233 and 352, resulting in autophagy suppression. By using phosphorylation-deficient and phosphorylation-mimic mutants, we identify BCR-ABL induced BECLIN-1 phosphorylation as a crucial mechanism for BECLIN-1 complex formation: interaction analyses exhibit diminished binding of the positive autophagy regulators UVRAG, VPS15, ATG14 and VPS34 and enhanced binding of the negative regulator Rubicon to BCR-ABL-phosphorylated BECLIN-1. Taken together, our findings show interaction of BCR-ABL and BECLIN-1 thereby highlighting the importance of BECLIN-1-mediated autophagy in BCR-ABL+ cells.

Activating mutations in FMS-like tyrosine kinase receptor-3 (FLT3) and Nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1) are most frequent alterations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and are often coincidental. The mutational status of NPM1 has strong prognostic relevance to patients with point mutations of the FLT3 tyrosine kinase domain (TKD), but the biological mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the coincidence of NPM1c and FLT3-TKD. Although expression of FLT3-TKD is not sufficient to induce a disease in mice, coexpression with NPM1c rapidly leads to an aggressive myeloproliferative disease in mice with a latency of 31.5 days. Mechanistically, we could show that FLT3-TKD is able to activate the downstream effector molecule signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) exclusively in the presence of mutated NPM1c. Moreover, NPM1c alters the cellular localization of FLT3-TKD from the cell surface to the endoplasmic reticulum, which might thereby lead to the aberrant STAT5 activation. Importantly, aberrant STAT5 activation occurs not only in primary murine cells but also in patients with AML with combined FLT3-TKD and NPM1c mutations. Thus, our data indicate a new mechanism, how NPM1c mislocalizes FLT3-TKD and changes its signal transduction ability.

Recent evidence has revealed that oncogenic mutations may confer immune escape. A better understanding of how an oncogenic mutation affects immunosuppressive programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression may help in developing new therapeutic strategies. We show that oncogenic JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) activity caused STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) and STAT5 phosphorylation, which enhanced PD-L1 promoter activity and PD-L1 protein expression in JAK2V617F-mutant cells, whereas blockade of JAK2 reduced PD-L1 expression in myeloid JAK2V617F-mutant cells. PD-L1 expression was higher on primary cells isolated from patients with JAK2V617F–myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) compared to healthy individuals and declined upon JAK2 inhibition. JAK2V617F mutational burden, pSTAT3, and PD-L1 expression were highest in primary MPN patient–derived monocytes, megakaryocytes, and platelets. PD-1 (programmed death receptor 1) inhibition prolonged survival in human MPN xenograft and primary murine MPN models. This effect was dependent on T cells. Mechanistically, PD-L1 surface expression in JAK2V617F-mutant cells affected metabolism and cell cycle progression of T cells. In summary, we report that in MPN, constitutive JAK2/STAT3/STAT5 activation, mainly in monocytes, megakaryocytes, and platelets, caused PD-L1–mediated immune escape by reducing T cell activation, metabolic activity, and cell cycle progression. The susceptibility of JAK2V617F-mutant MPN to PD-1 targeting paves the way for immunomodulatory approaches relying on PD-1 inhibition.

Recent evidence has revealed that oncogenic mutations may confer immune escape. A better understanding of how an oncogenic mutation affects immunosuppressive PD-L1 expression may help in developing new therapeutic strategies. Here, we show that oncogenic JAK2 activity caused STAT3 and STAT5 phosphorylation, which enhanced PD-L1 promoter activity and PD-L1 protein expression in JAK2(V617F)-mutant cells, whereas blockade of JAK2 reduced PD-L1 expression in myeloid JAK2(V617F)-mutant cells. PD-L1 expression was higher on primary cells isolated from patients with JAK2(V617F)-myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) compared to healthy individuals and declined upon JAK2 inhibition. JAK2(V617F) mutational burden, pSTAT3, and PD-L1 expression were highest in primary MPN patient-derived monocytes, megakaryocytes, and platelets. PD-1 inhibition prolonged survival in human MPN xenograft and primary murine MPN models. This effect was dependent on T cells. Mechanistically, PD-L1 surface expression in JAK2(V617F)-mutant cells affected metabolism and cell cycle progression of T cells. In summary, we report that in MPN, constitutive JAK2/STAT3/STAT5 activation, mainly in monocytes, megakaryocytes, and platelets, caused PD-L1-mediated immune escape by reducing T cell activation, metabolic activity, and cell cycle progression. The susceptibility of JAK2(V617F)-mutant MPN to PD-1 targeting paves the way for immunomodulatory approaches relying on PD-1 inhibition.

The oncogenic JAK2V617F mutation is found in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and is believed to be critical for leukemogenesis. Here we show that JAK2V617F requires an intact SH2 domain for constitutive activation of downstream signaling pathways. In addition, there is a strict requirement of cytokine receptor expression for the activation of this oncogene. Further analysis showed that the SH2 domain mutation did not interfere with JAK2 membrane distribution. However, coimmunoprecipitated experiments revealed a role for the SH2 domain in the aggregation and cross-phosphorylation of JAK2V617F at the cell membrane. Forced overexpression of cytokine receptors could rescue the JAK2V617F SH2 mutant supporting a critical role of JAK2V617F abundance for constitutive activation. However, under physiologic cytokine receptor expression the SH2 domain is absolutely necessary for oncogenic JAK2V617F activation. This is demonstrated in a bone marrow transplantation model, in which an intact SH2 domain in JAK2V617F is required for the induction of an MPN-like disease. Thus, our results points to an indispensable role of the SH2 domain in JAK2V617F-induced MPNs.

AMN107 is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed, in the first instance, as a potent inhibitor of breakpoint cluster region-abelson (BCR-ABL). We tested its effectiveness against fusion tyrosine kinases TEL–platelet-derived growth factor receptorβ (TEL-PDGFRβ) and FIP1-like-1 (FIP1L1)–PDGFRα, which cause chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and hypereosinophilic syndrome, respectively. In vitro, AMN107 inhibited proliferation of Ba/F3 cells transformed by both TEL-PDGFRβ and FIP1L1-PDGFRα with IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50%) values less than 25 nM and inhibited phosphorylation of the fusion kinases and their downstream signaling targets. The imatinib mesylate–resistant mutant TEL-PDGFRβ T681I was sensitive to AMN107, whereas the analogous mutation in FIP1L1-PDGFRα, T674I, was resistant. In an in vivo bone marrow transplantation assay, AMN107 effectively treated myeloproliferative disease induced by TEL-PDGFRβ and FIP1L1-PDGFRα, significantly increasing survival and disease latency and reducing disease severity as assessed by histopathology and flow cytometry. In summary, AMN107 can inhibit myeloid proliferation driven by TEL-PDGFRβ and FIP1L1-PDGFRα and may be a useful drug for treatment of patients with myeloproliferative disease who harbor these kinase fusions.

Myeloproliferation with prominent eosinophilia is associated with rearrangements of PDGFR-A or -B. The most common rearrangement is FIP1L1-PDGFRA (FP). The majority of patients with PDGFR-rearranged myeloproliferation respond to treatment with imatinib. In contrast to BCR-ABL-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia, only few cases of imatinib resistance and mutations of the FP kinase domain have been described so far. We hypothesized that the number of critical residues mediating imatinib resistance in FP in contrast to BCR-ABL might be limited. We performed an established systematic and comprehensive in vitro resistance screen to determine the pattern and frequency of possible TKI resistance mutations in FP. We identified 27 different FP kinase domain mutations including 25 novel variants, which attenuated response to imatinib, nilotinib or sorafenib. However, the majority of these exchanges did not confer complete inhibitor resistance. At clinically achievable drug concentrations, FP/T674I predominated with imatinib, whereas with nilotinib and sorafenib, FP/D842V and the compound mutation T674I+T874I became prevalent. Our results suggest that the PDGFR kinase domain contains a limited number of residues where exchanges critically interfere with binding of and inhibition by available PDGFR kinase inhibitors at achievable concentrations, which might explain the low frequency of imatinib resistance in this patient population. In addition, these findings would help to select the appropriate second-line drug in cases of imatinib-resistant disease and may be translated to other neoplasms driven by activated forms of PDGFR-A or -B.

The systemic mastocytosis-specific activating cKit mutation D816V can be inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor AMN107

Abstract 2423 Activating FLT3 mutations are found in 30% of AML patients. Internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations are most common, and are associated with poor prognosis. FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) display limited activity in FLT3 mutant AML. Most patients experience primary or secondary TKI resistance. Only single cases of FLT3 kinase-dependent TKI resistance by secondary FLT3-ITD kinase domain mutations were reported. We therefore examined the mechanism of FLT3-ITD kinase-independent TKI resistance using an in vitro model. FLT3-ITD cell lines resistant to PKC412 or Sorafenib in 50% of the cases did not harbor secondary FLT3-ITD kinase domain mutations. However, 30% of these lines displayed a persistent phosphorylation of JAK2, IL-3βc and STAT5, while FLT3 phosphorylation was suppressed, indicating that these cell lines bypassed FLT3-ITD by activation of IL-3β by JAK2. Strikingly, TKI sensitive FLT3-ITD cells also displayed IL-3β phosphorylation, which in contrast to TKI resistant cells was JAK2 independent and was suppressed upon FLT3 TKI treatment. Expression of FLT3-ITD in IL-3β and JAK2 deficient g2A cells was sufficient for IL-3β phosphorylation. Co-IP experiments indicated a direct interaction of IL-3β and FLT3-ITD in TKI-sensitive and -resistant cells, which did not require interaction of IL-3β with IL-3a. This indicates that FLT3-ITD “physiologically” uses IL-3β as signaling intermediate. Mapping experiments showed that FLT3-ITD binding occurs in the membrane proximal region of IL-3β, independent of 8 tyrosines present in the cytoplasmic part. In search of the kinase bypassing FLT3-ITD in TKI-resistant cell lines, we identified an activating JAK1 mutation V658F in all TKI resistant FLT3-ITD cell lines displaying phosphorylation of JAK2, IL-3β and STAT5. JAK1 V658F is homologous to JAK2 V617F present in PV, phosphorylates IL-3β and STAT5, and confers TKI resistance in FLT3-ITD positive cells, which could be overcome by the JAK1/2 inhibitor Ruxolitinib. In summary, these data indicate that IL-3β not only mediates “physiological” FLT3-ITD dependent STAT5 activation, but also serves as a signaling module mediating JAK1/2-dependent TKI resistance. Thus, JAK inhibitors might represent an attractive therapeutic option in addition to FLT3 inhibitors in FLT3-ITD positive AML. Disclosures: Duyster: Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. von Bubnoff:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Abstract 2912 Poster Board II-888 Constitutively activated variants of PDGFRA, PDGFRB can be found in a subset of patients with myeloid neoplasms associated with eosinophilia. The most common is FIP1L1-PDGFRA (FP). Patients with PDGFR-A and -B rearranged myeloproliferation respond to treatment with imatinib. However, single cases of clinical resistance due to a secondary FP/T674I mutation have been reported. In CML, more than 40 different exchanges have been described that confer imatinib resistance, and sequential treatment with imatinib and novel Abl kinase inhibitors has become reality. Nilotinib and sorafinib are potent alternative inhibitors of PDGFR-A and -B. We therefore hypothesized that available PDGFR kinase inhibitors might produce specific profiles of secondary FP kinase domain mutations mediating inhibitor resistance. To this aim, we selected clones of FP expressing Ba/F3 cells resistant to rising concentrations of imatinib, nilotinib, and sorafinib. In these, we identified 27 different PDGFRA kinase domain mutations. Imatinib, nilotinib and sorafenib produced distinct profiles of resistance mutations. During selection with imatinib, FP/T674I predominated with rising concentrations. FP/T674I corresponds to Bcr-Abl/T315I, which is frequently found in imatinib resistant CML. In contrast to imatinib, nilotinib and sorafenib produced a significantly lower frequency of resistant cell clones. Also, T674I disappeared at therapeutic nilotinib concentrations in favour of T674I+T874I and D842V. Sorafinib displayed a distinct profile of mutations including D842V, but not T674I. Following cloning and expression of all FP variants, dose-response analysis indicated that full cross-resistance to all three inhibitors was limited to D842V, whereas the gatekeeper T674I exchange retained sensitivity to sorafenib and nilotinib, and T674I+T874I was responsive to sorafenib only. In silico structure modelling indicated that differences in inhibitor response observed in distinct clusters of FP mutations identified in drug-resistant clones are based on differences of sorafenib versus imatinib and nilotinib in key drug - protein target interactions in PDGFR family kinases. Besides direct inhibitor binding effects, we propose that the identified exchanges shift an inactive-active conformation equilibrium and thereby affect binding of type II inhibitors like imatinib, nilotinib and sorafenib. Our results predict PDGFR variants that might come up in patients with myeloproliferation positive for PDGFR-A or -B fusions treated with imatinib, nilotinib or sorafenib. These findings will help in selection of an appropriate second line PDGFR kinase inhibitor when resistance to imatinib emerges, and will guide drug design. Moreover, our data can be translated to other neoplasms driven by activated forms of PDGFR-A or -B including GIST, CMML, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Use of sorafenib and nilotinib in myeloproliferation with prominent eosinophilia.

The JAK2-V617F mutation has been reported in the majority of MPDs including PV, ET, and IMF. This mutation leads to the constitutive activation of the JAK2 tyrosine kinase activity and overexpression of JAK2V617F renders hematopoietic cell lines growth factor-independent. However, the molecular mechanism leading to constitutive activation of JAK2V617F is largely unclear and the requirement of homodimeric or heterodimeric cytokine receptors needs to be determined. Here we show that oncogenic JAK2-V617F requires an intact SH2 domain for constitutive kinase activity. To this end we mutated the conserved arginine 426 within the SH2 domain to a lysine. Ba/F3 cells expressing JAK2V617F grew IL-3-independent and showed constitutive activation of JAK2, STAT5, and ERK1/2. In contrast, introduction of the SH2 mutation in JAK2V617F abrogated both transformation as well as constitutive activation of downstream signaling pathways. Accordingly, reconstitution of JAK2 mutants in a JAK2-negative cell line with IL-3R co-expression revealed reduced activation of JAK2 when the SH2 domain was mutated. It has been reported that JAK2 binding to homodimeric type I cytokine receptor may facilitate JAK2V617F-mediated transformation. Interestingly, co-expression of the homodomeric EpoR with SH2 mutated JAK2V617F rescues the phenotype indicating that the SH2 domain is required for JAK2 signaling in the presence of heterodimeric but not homodimeric cytokine receptors. Membrane localization studies showed equal membrane distribution of SH2-mutated and unmutated JAK2-V617F indicating that the SH2 domain mutation does not affect subcellular distribution of JAK2. However, co-IP experiments revealed a possible role for the SH2 domain in the dimerization and transphosphorylation of JAK2. Consequently, reduced transphosphorylation was seen in IL-3R- but not in EpoR-expressing cells. In a BM transplantation model we found that an intact SH2 domain in JAK2V617F was required for the induction of a MPD-like disease. Thus, our results points to an important role of the SH2 domain for the constitutive activation of JAK2V617F in cells expressing heterodimeric cytokine receptors.

1739 FIP1L1-PDGFR alpha is a constitutively activated protein kinase which was reported in chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL) and in cases of hypereosinophilic syndrome and mastocytosis with eosinophilia. Imatinib is clinically active against FIP1L1-PDGFRA positive disease. However, clinical resistance to imatinib has been observed in FIP1L1-PDGFRA positive leukemia and was shown to occur due to a secondary mutation (T674I) in the PDGFR alpha kinase domain. Using a screening strategy to identify imatinib resistant mutations, we generated numerous imatinib resistant cell clones. Analysis of the PDGFRA kinase domain in these cell clones revealed a broad spectrum of resistance mutations including the clinically reported exchange T674I. Interestingly, one of the abundant mutations was a Phe to Ser exchange at position 604 (F604S), which occurred alone or in combination with other exchanges. Surprisingly, FIP1L1-PDGFRA/F604S did not increase the biochemical or cellular IC50 value to imatinib when compared to wild-type (WT FP). However, F604S and F604S+D842H transformed Ba/F3 and mouse bone marrow more efficiently compared to WT and D842H, respectively. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting indicated increased amounts of FIP1L1-PDGFRA protein in F604S versus WT cells. Pulse chase analysis revealed that FIP1L1-PDGFRA/F604S is strongly stabilized compared to WT. SRC coimmunoprecipitated with FIP1L1-PDGFRA in WT, but not F604S cells. Co-expression of SRC in 293T cells augmented degradation of WT, but not F604S FIP1L1-PDGFRA, indicating that SRC is a negative regulator of FIP1L1-PDGFRA protein stability. Importantly both, the SRC inhibitor PD166326 and SRC siRNA mimicked the F604S phenotype and resulted in stabilization of the WT protein. Importantly, phosphatase inhibitor treatment of FIP1L1-PDGFRA/F604S led to destabilization and SRC recruitment indicating that phosphatases might be responsible for the enhanced stability of FIP1L1-PDGFRA/F604S. In fact, coimmunuprecipitaion experiments identified the phosphatase SHP2 as a specific binding partner of F604S and mapping experiments revealed that the phosphatase domain of SHP-2 directly interacted with FIP1L1-PDGFRA/F604S but not with wt- FIP1L1-PDGFRA. Together, these results suggest that stabilization of FIP1L1-PDGFRA/F604S is due to dephosphorylation by SHP-2 leading to lesser activation of the SRC and Cbl mediated ubiquitination machinery. Finally a novel exchange (L629P) identified in imatinib resistance CEL patient also leads to the stabilization of FIP1L1-PDGFRA protein similar to F604S. This indicates that stabilization of FIP1L1-PDGFRA is a common mode of drug resistance in FIP1L1-PDGFRA positive HES or CEL. In summary, imatinib resistance screening identified a novel class of resistance mutations in FIP1L1-PDGFRA, that do not act by impeding drug binding to the target, but increased target protein stability and abundance by interfering with SRC- mediated degradation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations constitute the major mechanism of resistance in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with the ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib. Mutations causing resistance to therapeutic kinase inhibition were also identified in other target kinases in various malignant diseases, such as FLT3-ITD in acute myelogenous leukemia, cKit in gastrointestinal stromal tumors, EGFR in patients with lung cancer, and FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha in hypereosinophilic syndrome. Thus, mutations in kinase domains seem to be a general mechanism of resistance to therapeutically applicated tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We recently developed a cell-based screening strategy that allows one to predict the pattern and relative abundance of BCR-ABL resistance mutations emerging in the presence of imatinib, and the novel ABL kinase inhibitor AMN107 (nilotinib). We therefore intended to determine, if this method would also allow the generation of resistant cell clones with other oncogeneic tyrosine kinases as targets in the presence of specifically acting kinase inhibitors. When FLT3-ITD and su5614 were used as drug/target combination in our cell-based method, the frequency of resistant clones in the presence of su5614 at 10 times the IC50 was 0.17 per million cells. In 40 per cent of resistant clones, point mutations were detected leading to amino acid exchanges within the FLT3-ITD split kinase domain. The yield of resistant clones was increased by the factor of 14 to 2.37 per million cells by adding ethyl-nitrosourea (ENU), a potent inducer of point mutations. Also, the proportion of mutant clones increased from 40 to 74 per cent. In 83 mutant clones that were examined so far, we detected eight exchanges affecting kinase domain two (TK2) of the split kinase domain within or shortly behind the FLT3-ITD activation loop (A-loop). We did not detect exchanges affecting TK1. We next examined whether resistant clones would also come up with FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha-transformed cells in the presence of imatinib. Again, the yield of resistant clones increased when cells were pretreated with ENU, and a proportion of resistant clones contained mutations in the FIP1L1-PDGFRalpha kinase domain, affecting the nucleotide-binding loop (P-loop) and A-loop. We conclude that cell-based resistance screening is a simple and powerful tool that allows prediction of resistance mutations towards kinase inhibitors in various relevant oncogeneic kinases.