Supplementary Figure 1 from STAT3 Inhibition Is a Therapeutic Strategy for ABC-like Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Supplementary Figures 1-6 from Combining Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Vorinostat with Aurora Kinase Inhibitors Enhances Lymphoma Cell Killing with Repression of c-Myc, hTERT, and microRNA Levels

Supplementary Table 1 from Combining Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Vorinostat with Aurora Kinase Inhibitors Enhances Lymphoma Cell Killing with Repression of c-Myc, hTERT, and microRNA Levels

Supplementary Figure Legends 1-3 from STAT3 Inhibition Is a Therapeutic Strategy for ABC-like Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Supplementary Figure Legends 1- 4 from Targeting STAT3 in Adoptively Transferred T Cells Promotes Their In Vivo Expansion and Antitumor Effects

Supplementary Figure Legends 1-3 from 6-Bromoindirubin-3′-Oxime Inhibits JAK/STAT3 Signaling and Induces Apoptosis of Human Melanoma Cells

Supplementary Figure 1 from Targeting STAT3 in Adoptively Transferred T Cells Promotes Their In Vivo Expansion and Antitumor Effects

Supplementary Figure 2 from Targeting STAT3 in Adoptively Transferred T Cells Promotes Their In Vivo Expansion and Antitumor Effects

Supplementary Figure 3 from 6-Bromoindirubin-3′-Oxime Inhibits JAK/STAT3 Signaling and Induces Apoptosis of Human Melanoma Cells

Supplementary Figure Legends for Table 1 and Figures 1-6 from Combining Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Vorinostat with Aurora Kinase Inhibitors Enhances Lymphoma Cell Killing with Repression of c-Myc, hTERT, and microRNA Levels

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common type of indolent lymphoma that occasionally transforms to more aggressive B-cell lymphomas. These transformed follicular lymphomas (tFL) are often associated with chemoresistance whose mechanisms are currently unknown. REL, a proto-oncogene located on frequently amplified 2p16.1-p15 locus, promotes tumorigenesis in many cancer types through deregulation of the NF-κB pathway; however, its role in FL pathobiology or chemoresistance has not been addressed. Here, we evaluated REL gene copy number by q-PCR on FFPE FL tumor samples, and observed REL amplification in 30.4% of FL cases that was associated with weak elevation of transcript levels. PCR-Sanger analysis did not show any somatic mutation in FL tumors. In support of a marginal oncogenic role, a REL-transduced FL cell line was positively selected under limiting serum conditions. Interestingly, reanalysis of previously reported gene expression profiles revealed significant enrichment of DNA damage-induced repair and cell cycle arrest pathways in tFL tumors with high REL expression compared to those with low REL expression consistent with the critical role of c-REL in genotoxicity-induced NF-κB signaling, which was reported to lead to drug resistance. In addition to DNA damage repair genes such as ATM and BRCA1, anti-apoptotic BCL2 was significantly elevated in REL-high FL and tFL tumors. Altogether these data suggest that other genes located in amplified 2p16.1-p15 locus may have more oncogenic role in FL etiology; however, high REL expression may be useful as a predictive biomarker of response to immunochemotherapy, and inhibition of c-REL may potentially sensitize resistant FL or tFL cells to chemotherapy.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is typically an indolent disease, but 30–40% of FL cases transform into an aggressive lymphoma (tFL) with a poor prognosis. To identify the genetic changes that drive this transformation, we sequenced the exomes of 12 cases with paired FL and tFL biopsies and identified 45 recurrently mutated genes in the FL–tFL data set and 39 in the tFL cases. We selected 496 genes of potential importance in transformation and sequenced them in 23 additional tFL cases. Integration of the mutation data with copy-number abnormality (CNA) data provided complementary information. We found recurrent mutations of miR-142, which has not been previously been reported to be mutated in FL/tFL. The genes most frequently mutated in tFL included KMT2D ( MLL2 ), CREBBP , EZH2 , BCL2 and MEF2B. Many recurrently mutated genes are involved in epigenetic regulation, the Janus-activated kinase–signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) or the nuclear factor-κB pathways, immune surveillance and cell cycle regulation or are TFs involved in B-cell development. Of particular interest are mutations and CNAs affecting S1P-activated pathways through S1PR1 or S1PR2, which likely regulate lymphoma cell migration and survival outside of follicles. Our custom gene enrichment panel provides high depth of coverage for the study of clonal evolution or divergence.

Elevated cyclin D1 (CCND1) expression levels in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are associated with aggressive clinical manifestations related to chemoresistance, but little is known about how this important proto-oncogene contributes to the resistance of MCL. Here, we showed that RNA interference-mediated depletion of CCND1 increased caspase-3 activities and induced apoptosis in the human MCL lines UPN-1 and JEKO-1. In vitro and xenotransplant studies revealed that the toxic effect of CCND1 depletion in MCL cells was likely due to increase in histone H2AX phosphorylation, a DNA damage marker. DNA fiber analysis suggested deregulated replication initiation after CCND1 depletion as a potential cause of DNA damage. Finally, in contrast to depletion or inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 4, CCND1 depletion increased chemosensitivity of MCL cells to replication inhibitors hydroxyurea and cytarabine. Our findings have an important implication for CCND1 as a potential therapeutic target in MCL patients who are refractory to standard chemotherapy.

Lymphomas arising from NK or γδ-T cells are very aggressive diseases and little is known regarding their pathogenesis. Here we report frequent activating mutations of STAT3 and STAT5B in NK/T-cell lymphomas ( n =51), γδ-T-cell lymphomas ( n =43) and their cell lines ( n =9) through next generation and/or Sanger sequencing. STAT5B N642H is particularly frequent in all forms of γδ-T-cell lymphomas. STAT3 and STAT5B mutations are associated with increased phosphorylated protein and a growth advantage to transduced cell lines or normal NK cells. Growth-promoting activity of the mutants can be partially inhibited by a JAK1/2 inhibitor. Molecular modelling and surface plasmon resonance measurements of the N642H mutant indicate a marked increase in binding affinity of the phosphotyrosine-Y699 with the mutant histidine. This is associated with the prolonged persistence of the mutant phosphoSTAT5B and marked increase of binding to target sites. Our findings suggest that JAK-STAT pathway inhibition may represent a therapeutic strategy.

Abstract Background MLN8237 is an oral inhibitor of aurora kinase A (AURKA) that causes mitotic spindle defects, mitotic delay, and apoptosis in lymphoma cell lines and mouse models. Human studies have shown promising responses in hematologic malignancies. Vorinostat is an oral HDAC inhibitor that is FDA-approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and is under study in other lymphomas. AURKA inhibitors in combination with vorinostat show synergistic pro-apoptotic effects in vitro in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cell lines (Kretzner 2011, Cancer Res 71:3912). Our phase I multicenter study assessed the safety and tolerability of MLN8237 combined with vorinostat in patients with lymphoid malignancies [NCT01567709] and determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) to be 20 mg twice daily (BID) of MLN8237 and 200 mg BID of vorinostat orally in an interrupted dosing schedule (Schedule II). We have recently completed accrual to an expanded cohort at MTD and report preliminary data on our secondary endpoints among patients treated on Schedule II of this study. Methods Eligible patients were ≥18 years old with relapsed or refractory (r/r) lymphoid malignancies (HL, B-NHL, T-NHL), measureable disease, ECOG performance status 0-2, neutrophils ≥1500/µL, platelets ≥100,000/µL, and adequate kidney and liver function. Secondary endpoints were toxicities, clinical response, pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis, and correlative studies. A 3+2 modified rolling-6 design was employed to determine the MTD. Enrollment was initiated on a continuous dosing schedule (Schedule I) that was poorly tolerated, with adverse events (AEs) on dose levels 1 and 2 leading to many dose delays primarily due to gastrointestinal intolerance and myelosuppression. The protocol was amended to the interrupted dosing Schedule II: MLN8237 escalated from 20 to 50 mg BID on days 1-3 and 8-10, and vorinostat given at 200 mg BID on days 1-5 and 8-12 of a 21-day cycle. Results We treated 25 patients (11 DLBCL, 7 HL, 3 FL, 2 MCL, 1 PTCL, 1 NK/T cell) on the interrupted dosing Schedule II. Median age was 59 years (range 26-78). Mediannumber of prior therapies was 4 (range 1-10); 9 patients (36%) underwent prior stem cell transplantation. See Table for treatment summary. MTD of the combination is 20 mg BID for MLN8237 and 200 mg BID for vorinostat on the interrupted schedule. The commonest (>5%) ≥ grade 3 drug-related AEs were neutropenia (52%), thrombocytopenia (44%), leukopenia (44%), anemia (28%), lymphopenia (24%), febrile neutropenia (12%), oral mucositis (8%), diarrhea (8%), and lung infection (8%). There were no study-related deaths. 4 patients stopped treatment due to AEs and 13 due to progressive disease (PD). 2 patients achieved complete remission (CR); both had DLBCL, and both halted therapy after completing 2 further cycles of treatment post-CR. They both remain in CR (18 months and 1 month at data lock). 1 patient had a partial response (PR), and 8 patients maintained stable disease (SD). PKs demonstrated a clearance of 230 L/h (sd=495) and 2.94 L/h (sd=1.57) for vorinostat and MLN8237, respectively. Archived baseline biopsies are being analyzed to determine AURKA expression. Six fresh paired tumor biopsies were obtained before and on-treatment in the expanded cohort at MTD for correlative studies. Conclusions MLN8237 when given in combination with vorinostat is safe and tolerable in an interrupted dosing schedule among heavily pre-treated patients with r/r lymphoid malignancies. The MTD for MLN8237 is 20 mg BID on days 1-3 and 8-10, combined with vorinostat at 200 mg BID on days 1-5 and 8-12, of 21 day cycles. The commonest AEs were hematologic and gastrointestinal. Promising responses were seen in several patients, especially those with DLBCL, which support phase 2 exploration of this therapy in patients with intermediate-high grade NHL. PK analysis suggests that combination therapy exposures are similar to single agent exposure. Correlative studies done in a 12-patient expanded cohort will be presented. [Trial supported in part by UM1CA186717] Table 1. Schedule II:MLN8237 (mg)/ Vorinostat (mg) # of patients treated # of cycles completed Median (range) # of dose limiting toxicities (DLT) DLT Description Best response Dose level 1 (30/200) 7 3 (0-18) 2 1 pt had grade 3 febrile neutropenia; 1 pt had grade 3 thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion 1 CR, 3 SD, 2 PD, 1 N/A Dose level -1 (20/200) 18 2 (0-14) 0 1 CR, 1 PR, 5 SD, 8 PD, 3 too early to assess Disclosures Siddiqi: Kite pharma: Other: attended advisory board meeting; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics/Jannsen: Speakers Bureau. Off Label Use: Vorinostat is only FDA-approved for CTCL but in this study it is being used in conjunction with MLN8237 (not FDA-approved) for all lymphomas.. Beumer:Millenium: Other: Research support. Forman:Mustang Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Can Küçük1,*, Bei Jiang1,*, Xiaozhou Hu1, Wenyan Zhang2, John K.C. Chan3, Wenming Xiao4, Nathan Lack5, Can Alkan6, John C. Williams7, Kendra N. Avery7, Pınar Kavak8, Anna Scuto1, Emel Sen5, Philippe Gaulard9, Lou Staudt10, Javeed Iqbal11, Weiwei Zhang11, Adam Cornish12, Qiang Gong13, Qunpei Yang2, Hong Sun2, Francesco d’Amore14, Sirpa Leppä15, Weiping Liu2, Kai Fu2, Laurence de Leval16, Timothy McKeithan1 & Wing C. Chan1

In vitro effects of the carbamates pirimicarb and zineb and their formulations Aficida(R) (50% pirimicarb) and Azzurro(R) (70% zineb), respectively, were evaluated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells. Whereas the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus cytome assay was employed to test for genotoxicity, MTT, neutral red (NR), and apoptosis evaluation were used as tests for estimating cell viability and succinic dehydrogenase activity, respectively. Concentrations tested were 10-300 mu g/ml for pirimicarb and Aficida(R), and 1-50 mu g/ml for zineb and Azzurro(R). All compounds were able to increase the frequency of micronuclei. A marked reduction in the nuclear division index was observed after treatment with 5 mu g/ml of zineb and Azzurro(R) and 10 mu g/ml of Azzurro(R). Alterations in the cellular morphology not allowing the recognition of binucleated cells exposed to 300 mu g/ml pirimicarb and Aficida(R) as well as 10-50 mu g/ml zineb and Azzurro(R). All four compounds induced inhibition of both cell viability and succinic dehydrogenase activity and trigger apoptosis in CHO-K1 cells, at least when exposed for 24 h. The data herein demonstrate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects exerted by these carbamates and reveal the potential risk factor of these pesticides, still extensively used worldwide, for both human health and the environment. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

JAK/STAT3 is one of the major signaling pathways that is aberrantly activated in ovarian cancer and associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting JAK/STAT3 signaling in ovarian cancer using a peritoneal dissemination mouse model. We developed this mouse model by injecting a metastatic human ovarian cancer cell line, SKOV3-M-Luc, into the peritoneal cavity of immunodeficient mice. This model displayed a phenotype similar to late-stage ovarian cancer, including extensive peritoneal metastasis and ascites production. The constitutive activation of STAT3 in human ovarian cancer cells appeared to be mediated by an autocrine cytokine loop involving the IL6 family of cytokines and JAK1 kinase. shRNA-mediated knockdown of JAK1 or STAT3 in ovarian cancer cells led to reduced tumor growth, decreased peritoneal dissemination, and diminished ascites production, suggesting a critical role of STAT3 in ovarian cancer progression. Similar results were obtained when a small-molecule inhibitor (JAKi) of the JAK1 kinase was used to treat ovarian cancer in this model. In addition, we found that the expression level of IL6 was correlated with activation of STAT3 in ovarian cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a potential application of IL6 as a biomarker. Altogether, our results demonstrate that targeting JAK1/STAT3, using shRNA knockdown or a small-molecule inhibitor, effectively suppressed ovarian tumor progression and, therefore, could be a potential novel therapeutic approach for treating advanced ovarian cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 13(12); 3037–48. ©2014 AACR.