Halofuginone inhibits multiple myeloma growth in vitro and in vivo and enhances cytotoxicity of conventional and novel agents.

Abstract

Multiple Myeloma (MM), a malignancy of plasma cells, remains incurable despite the use of conventional and novel therapies. Halofuginone (HF), a synthetic derivative of quinazolinone alkaloid, has recently been shown to have anti-cancer activity in various preclinical settings. This study demonstrated the anti-tumour activity of HF against a panel of human MM cell lines and primary patient-derived MM cells, regardless of their sensitivity to conventional therapy or novel agents. HF showed anti-MM activity in vivo using a myeloma xenograft mouse model. HF suppressed proliferation of myeloma cells alone and when co-cultured with bone marrow stromal cells. Similarly, HF induced apoptosis in MM cells even in the presence of insulin-like growth factor 1 or interleukin 6. Importantly, HF, even at high doses, did not induce cytotoxicity against CD40 activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from normal donors. HF treatment induced accumulation of cells in the G(0) /G(1) cell cycle and induction of apoptotic cell death associated with depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential; cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspases-3, 8 and 9 as well as down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins including Mcl-1 and X-IAP. Multiplex analysis of phosphorylation of diverse components of signalling cascades revealed that HF induced changes in P38MAPK activation; increased phosphorylation of c-jun, c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), p53 and Hsp-27. Importantly, HF triggered synergistic cytotoxicity in combination with lenalidomide, melphalan, dexamethasone, and doxorubicin. Taken together, these preclinical studies provide the preclinical framework for future clinical studies of HF in MM.

• Authors: Merav Leiba, Jana Jakubikova, Steffen Klippel, Constantine S Mitsiades, Teru Hideshima, Yu-Tzu Tai, Adi Leiba, Mark Pines, Paul G Richardson, Arnon Nagler, Kenneth C Anderson
• Journal: British journal of haematology (Br J Haematol) Vol. 157 Issue 6 Pg. 718-31 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1365-2141 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22533681 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Mcl1 protein, mouse
• Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
• Piperidines
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
• Quinazolinones
• TP53 protein, human
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein
• XIAP protein, human
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Caspases
• halofuginone

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (agonists, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspases (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Synergism
• Female
• G1 Phase (drug effects)
• Humans
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Male
• Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial (drug effects)
• Mice
• Mice, SCID
• Multiple Myeloma (drug therapy)
• Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Piperidines (agonists, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 (metabolism)
• Quinazolinones (agonists, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Resting Phase, Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (metabolism)
• X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (metabolism)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)