β-Catenin and AKT are promising targets for combination therapy in acute myeloid leukemia.

In this study, we confirmed that combining HHT with ACR can result in synergistic cytotoxicity to AML cells in vitro and in vivo. Combining HHT and ACR simultaneously inhibited PI3K/AKT and WNT/β-catenin signaling in AML cells. Significant increases in growth inhibition and apoptosis were induced by an AKT inhibitor when the WNT3A gene of THP-1 cells was silenced. HHT+ACR could synergistically induce the apoptosis of CD34(+)/CD38(-) primary AML cells. These results highlight β-catenin and AKT are promising targets for combination therapy for AML.