MUC1-C drives myeloid leukaemogenesis and resistance to treatment by a survivin-mediated mechanism.

In this study, we demonstrate that MUC1-C overexpression is associated with increased leukaemia initiating capacity in an NSG mouse model. In concert with those results, MUC1-C silencing in multiple AML cell lines significantly reduced the establishment of AML in vivo. In addition, targeting MUC1-C with silencing or pharmacologic inhibition with GO-203 led to a decrease in active β-catenin levels and, in-turn, down-regulation of survivin, a critical mediator of leukaemia cell survival. Targeting MUC1-C was also associated with increased sensitivity of AML cells to Cytarabine (Ara-C) treatment by a survivin-dependent mechanism. Notably, low MUC1 and survivin gene expression were associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with AML. These findings emphasize the importance of MUC1-C to myeloid leukaemogenesis and resistance to treatment by driving survivin expression. Our findings also highlight the potential translational relevance of combining GO-203 with Ara-C for the treatment of patients with AML.
PMID: 29761849 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: J Cell Mol Med - May 15, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Stroopinsky D, Rajabi H, Nahas M, Rosenblatt J, Rahimian M, Pyzer A, Tagde A, Kharbanda A, Jain S, Kufe T, Leaf RK, Anastasiadou E, Bar-Natan M, Orr S, Coll MD, Palmer K, Ephraim A, Cole L, Washington A, Kufe D, Avigan D Tags: J Cell Mol Med Source Type: research