Targeting Wnt pathway in mantle cell lymphoma-initiating cells

BACKGROUND:

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive and incurable form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Despite initial intense chemotherapy, up to 50% of cases of MCL relapse often in a chemoresistant form. We hypothesized that the recently identified MCL-initiating cells (MCL-ICs) are the main reason for relapse and chemoresistance of MCL. Cancer stem cell-related pathways such as Wnt could be responsible for their maintenance and survival.

METHODS:

We isolated MCL-ICs from primary MCL cells on the basis of a defined marker expression pattern (CD34-CD3-CD45+CD19-) and investigated Wnt pathway expression. We also tested the potential of Wnt pathway inhibitors in elimination of MCL-ICs.

RESULTS:

We showed that MCL-ICs are resistant to genotoxic agents vincristine, doxorubicin, and the newly approved Burton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib. We confirmed the differential up-regulation of Wnt pathway in MCL-ICs. Indeed, MCL-ICs were particularly sensitive to Wnt pathway inhibitors. Targeting β-catenin-TCF4 interaction with CCT036477, iCRT14, or PKF118-310 preferentially eliminated the MCL-ICs.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggest that Wnt signaling is critical for the maintenance and survival of MCL-ICs, and effective MCL therapy should aim to eliminate MCL-ICs through Wnt signaling inhibitors.

Related Products

Cat.No.	Product Name	Information
S2151	Sonidegib	Sonidegib is a Smoothened (Smo) antagonist, inhibiting Hedgehog (Hh) signaling with IC50 of 1.3 nM (mouse) and 2.5 nM (human) in cell-free assays, respectively. Phase 3.
S1146	Cyclopamine	Cyclopamine (11-deoxojervine) is a specific Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway antagonist of Smoothened (Smo) with IC50 of 46 nM in TM3Hh12 cells.
S1575	RO4929097	RO4929097 (RG-4733) is a γ secretase inhibitor with IC50 of 4 nM in a cell-free assay, inhibiting cellular processing of Aβ40 and Notch with EC50 of 14 nM and 5 nM, respectively. Phase 2.

Related Targets

Hedgehog/Smoothened Gamma-secretase Beta Amyloid