Effective targeting of NAMPT in patient-derived xenograft models of high-risk pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Leukemia. 2020 Jun;34(6):1524-1539. doi: 10.1038/s41375-019-0683-6. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Abstract

The prognosis for children diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains suboptimal, and more potent and less toxic treatments are urgently needed. We investigated the efficacy of a novel nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase inhibitor, OT-82, against a panel of patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) established from high-risk and poor outcome pediatric ALL cases. OT-82 was well-tolerated and demonstrated impressive single agent in vivo efficacy, achieving significant leukemia growth delay in 95% (20/21) and disease regression in 86% (18/21) of PDXs. In addition, OT-82 enhanced the efficacy of the established drugs cytarabine and dasatinib and, as a single agent, showed similar efficacy as an induction-type regimen combining three drugs used to treat pediatric ALL. OT-82 exerted its antileukemic action by depleting NAD+ and ATP, inhibiting the NAD+-requiring DNA damage repair enzyme PARP-1, increasing mitochondrial ROS levels and inducing DNA damage, culminating in apoptosis induction. OT-82 sensitivity was associated with the occurrence of mutations in major DNA damage response genes, while OT-82 resistance was characterized by high expression levels of CD38. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that OT-82, as a single agent, and in combination with established drugs, is a promising new therapeutic strategy for a broad spectrum of high-risk pediatric ALL for which improved therapies are urgently needed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cytokines / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
  • nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human