title: Quizartinib (AC220) is a potent second generation class III tyrosine kinase inhibitor that displays a distinct inhibition profile against mutant-FLT3, -PDGFRA and -KIT isoforms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Activating mutations of class III receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) FLT3, PDGFR and KIT are associated with multiple human neoplasms including hematologic malignancies, for example: systemic mast cell disorders (KIT), non-CML myeloproliferative neoplasms (PDGFR) and subsets of acute leukemias (FLT3 and KIT). First generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are rapidly being integrated into routine cancer care. However, the expanding spectrum of TK-mutations, bioavailability issues and the emerging problem of primary or secondary TKI-therapy resistance have lead to the search for novel second generation TKIs to improve target potency and to overcome resistant clones.Quizartinib was recently demonstrated to be a selective FLT3 inhibitor with excellent pharmacokinetics and promising in vivo activity in a phase II study for FLT3 ITD + AML patients. In vitro kinase assays have suggested that in addition to FLT3, quizartinib also targets related class III RTK isoforms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Various FLT3 or KIT leukemia cell lines and native blasts were used to determine the antiproliferative and proapoptotic efficacy of quizartinib. To better compare differences between the mutant kinase isoforms, we generated an isogenic BaF3 cell line expressing different FLT3, KIT or BCR/ABL isoforms. Using immunoblotting, we examined the effects of quizartinib on activation of mutant KIT or FLT3 isoforms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kinase inhibition of (mutant) KIT, PDGFR and FLT3 isoforms by quizartinib leads to potent inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis in in vitro leukemia models as well as in native leukemia blasts treated ex vivo. However, the sensitivity patterns vary widely depending on the underlying (mutant)-kinase isoform, with some isoforms being relatively insensitive to this agent (e.g. FLT3 D835V and KIT codon D816 mutations). Evaluation of sensitivities in an isogenic cellular background confirms a direct association with the underlying mutant-TK isoform--which is further validated by immunoblotting experiments demonstrating kinase inhibition consistent with the cellular sensitivity/resistance to quizartinib.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quizartinib is a potent second-generation class III receptor TK-inhibitor--but specific, mutation restricted spectrum of activity may require mutation screening prior to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology, Immunology and Pulmology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. kerstin.kampa-schittenhelm@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Kerstin Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kampa-Schittenhelm
authors.forename: Michael Charles
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Figen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akmut
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Döhner
authors.forename: Konstanze
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Döhner
authors.forename: Marcus Matthias
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schittenhelm
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051941:fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C544967:quizartinib; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D051941:fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3