Mitoxantrone in combination with an inhibitor of DNA-dependent protein kinase: a potential therapy for high risk B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Sarah L. Elliott
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorClark Crawford
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorEvan Mulligan
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorTryfonia Mainou-Fowler
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorClare Bedwell
Northern Genetics Service, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Search for more papers by this authorBarbara W. Durkacz
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorElaine Willmore
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorSarah L. Elliott
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorClark Crawford
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorEvan Mulligan
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorTryfonia Mainou-Fowler
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorClare Bedwell
Northern Genetics Service, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Search for more papers by this authorBarbara W. Durkacz
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorElaine Willmore
The Newcastle Cancer Centre at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Defects in the DNA damage response pathway [e.g. del(17p)] are associated with drug-resistant B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We previously demonstrated that over-expression of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) correlates with chemo-resistance and that inhibition of DNA-PK sensitizes CLL cells to chemotherapeutics. Here, we investigated expression of DNA-PK and other proteins that impact on drug resistance, and evaluated the effects of a DNA-PK inhibitor (NU7441) on mitoxantrone-induced cytotoxicity in CLL cells. NU7441 sensitized cells from 42/49 CLL samples to mitoxantrone, with sensitization ranging from 2- to 200-fold Co-culture of CLL cells in conditioned stromal medium increased chemoresistance but did not reduce sensitization by NU7441. Mitoxantrone treatment induced γH2AX foci and NU7441 increased their longevity (24 h). NU7441 prevented mitoxantrone-induced autophosphorylation of the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) at Ser 2056, confirming that DNA-PK participates in repair of mitoxantrone-induced DNA damage. del(17p) cases were more resistant to mitoxantrone than del(13q) cases, but were resensitized (7–16 fold) by co-incubation with NU7441. Expression of DNA-PKcs, Ku80, P-glycoprotein and topoisomerase IIβ were significantly higher in del(17p) cases. PRKDC mRNA levels correlated with DNA-PKcs protein expression, which predicted shorter survival. These data confirm the potential of DNA-PK as a therapeutic target in poor prognosis CLL.
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