BACKGROUND: The ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 is a promising agent for treatment of advanced Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. However, resistance to this drug develops within a few months in most patients. We aimed to predict resistance to STI571. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from 25 bone-marrow samples from 19 patients with Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who were enrolled into a phase II study. 17 samples were obtained before STI571 treatment was started: ten from individuals who were classified as good responders to STI571 (sensitive), and seven from individuals who did not to respond to STI571 (primary resistance). Eight samples were obtained from patients during treatment with STI571. We analysed six matched samples, which were obtained before and during treatment with STI571. Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of samples was done with high-density microarrays. FINDINGS: We identified 95 genes whose expression could be used to predict sensitivity of leukaemic cells to STI571. On this basis, all the STI571-sensitive samples could clearly be distinguished from the resistant cases. 56 highly differentially expressed genes were identified in leukaemic cells that were secondarily resistant to STI571. Resistant leukaemic cells expressed high levels of Bruton's tyrosine kinase and two ATP synthetases (ATP5A1 and ATP5C1), and showed significantly reduced expression of the proapoptotic gene BAK1 and the cell-cycle control gene p15 INK4b. INTERPRETATION: We have shown the clinical relevance of gene expression data for the pretreatment assessment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Our results have implications for future clinical studies of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
BACKGROUND: The ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 is a promising agent for treatment of advanced Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. However, resistance to this drug develops within a few months in most patients. We aimed to predict resistance to STI571. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from 25 bone-marrow samples from 19 patients with Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who were enrolled into a phase II study. 17 samples were obtained before STI571 treatment was started: ten from individuals who were classified as good responders to STI571 (sensitive), and seven from individuals who did not to respond to STI571 (primary resistance). Eight samples were obtained from patients during treatment with STI571. We analysed six matched samples, which were obtained before and during treatment with STI571. Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of samples was done with high-density microarrays. FINDINGS: We identified 95 genes whose expression could be used to predict sensitivity of leukaemic cells to STI571. On this basis, all the STI571-sensitive samples could clearly be distinguished from the resistant cases. 56 highly differentially expressed genes were identified in leukaemic cells that were secondarily resistant to STI571. Resistant leukaemic cells expressed high levels of Bruton's tyrosine kinase and two ATP synthetases (ATP5A1 and ATP5C1), and showed significantly reduced expression of the proapoptotic gene BAK1 and the cell-cycle control gene p15INK4b. INTERPRETATION: We have shown the clinical relevance of gene expression data for the pretreatment assessment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Our results have implications for future clinical studies of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Authors: Christos Sotiriou; Soek-Ying Neo; Lisa M McShane; Edward L Korn; Philip M Long; Amir Jazaeri; Philippe Martiat; Steve B Fox; Adrian L Harris; Edison T Liu Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2003-08-13 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: M J Smith; A C Culhane; M Donovan; J C Coffey; B D Barry; M A Kelly; D G Higgins; J H Wang; W O Kirwan; T G Cotter; H P Redmond Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2009-05-05 Impact factor: 7.640