title: AKT is a therapeutic target in myeloproliferative neoplasms.
abstract: The majority of patients with BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) harbor mutations in JAK2 or MPL, which lead to constitutive activation of the JAK/STAT, PI3K and ERK signaling pathways. JAK inhibitors by themselves are inadequate in producing selective clonal suppression in MPN and are associated with hematopoietic toxicities. MK-2206 is a potent allosteric AKT inhibitor that was well tolerated, including no evidence of myelosuppression, in a phase I study of solid tumors. Herein, we show that inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling by MK-2206 affected the growth of both JAK2V617F- or MPLW515L-expressing cells via reduced phosphorylation of AKT and inhibition of its downstream signaling molecules. Moreover, we demonstrate that MK-2206 synergizes with ruxolitinib in suppressing the growth of JAK2V617F-mutant SET2 cells. Importantly, MK-2206 suppressed colony formation from hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with primary myelofibrosis and alleviated hepatosplenomegaly and reduced megakaryocyte burden in the bone marrows, livers and spleens of mice with MPLW515L-induced MPN. Together, these findings establish AKT as a rational therapeutic target in the MPNs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stankiewicz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilles
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goldenson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Diebold
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gurbuxani
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Finke
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lasho
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koppikar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pardanani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Altman
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tefferi
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Crispino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000172:deficiency; D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006575:Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring; C548887:MK 2206; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D053614:Janus Kinase 2; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt