Sensitivity of MLL-rearranged AML cells to all-trans retinoic acid is associated with the level of H3K4me2 in the RARα promoter region

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is well established as differentiation therapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in which the PML–RARα (promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor α) fusion protein causes blockade of the retinoic acid (RA) pathway; however, in types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) other than APL, the mechanism of RA pathway inactivation is not fully understood. This study revealed the potential mechanism of high ATRA sensitivity of mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-AF9-positive AML compared with MLL-AF4/5q31-positive AML. Treatment with ATRA induced significant myeloid differentiation accompanied by upregulation of RARα, C/EBPα, C/EBPɛ and PU.1 in MLL-AF9-positive but not in MLL-AF4/5q31-positive cells. Combining ATRA with cytarabine had a synergistic antileukemic effect in MLL-AF9-positive cells in vitro. The level of dimethyl histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2) in the RARα gene-promoter region, PU.1 upstream regulatory region (URE) and RUNX1+24/+25 intronic enhancer was higher in MLL-AF9-positive cells than in MLL-AF4-positive cells, and inhibiting lysine-specific demethylase 1, which acts as a histone demethylase inhibitor, reactivated ATRA sensitivity in MLL-AF4-positive cells. These findings suggest that the level of H3K4me2 in the RARα gene-promoter region, PU.1 URE and RUNX1 intronic enhancer is determined by the MLL-fusion partner. Our findings provide insight into the mechanisms of ATRA sensitivity in AML and novel treatment strategies for ATRA-resistant AML.     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: where did we start,where are we now,and the future

Historically, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was considered to be one of the most fatal forms of acute leukemia with poor outcomes before the introduction of the vitamin A derivative all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). With considerable advances in therapy, including the introduction of ATRA initially as a single agent and then in combination with anthracyclines, and more recently by development of arsenic trioxide (ATO)-containing regimens, APL is now characterized by complete remission rates of 90% and cure rates of ∼80%, even higher among low-risk patients. Furthermore, with ATRA–ATO combinations, chemotherapy may safely be omitted in low-risk patients. The disease is now considered to be the most curable subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults. Nevertheless, APL remains associated with a significant incidence of early death related to the characteristic bleeding diathesis. Early death, rather than resistant disease so common in all other subtypes of AML, has emerged as the major cause of treatment failure.     

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia without Maturation with a Retinoic Alpha-Receptor Deletion: A Case Report

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a t(15;17) which fuses the 17q retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence to the 15q PML gene sequence. The resulting fusion product plays a role in the development and maintenance of APL, and is very rarely found in other acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtypes. Rare complex APL genomic rearrangements have retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence deletions. Here we report a retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence deletion in a case of AML without differentiation. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a retinoic acid alpha-receptor sequence deletion in this AML subtype.Key words: Acute myelogenous leukemia without maturation, PML/RAR?, Deletion, t(15;17)(q22;q21), Acute promyelocytic leukemia, AML-M3, AML-M1     

Cotylenin A--a plant growth regulator as a differentiation-inducing agent against myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the arrest of differentiation leading to the accumulation of immature cells. This maturation arrest can be reversed by certain agents. Although differentiation therapy for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has been established, the clinical response of AML patients other than those with APL to ATRA is limited. We must consider novel therapeutic drugs against other forms of AML for the development of a differentiation therapy for leukemia. Regulators that play an important role in the differentiation and development of plants or invertebrates may also affect the differentiation of human leukemia cells through a common signal transduction system, and might be clinically useful for treating AML. Cotylenin A, a plant growth regulator, is a potent and novel inducer of the monocytic differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines and leukemia cells freshly isolated from AML patients.     

Differentiating agents in pediatric malignancies: All-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is the most potentially curable type of acute myeloid leukemia. It is characterized by the chromosomal translocation t(15;17), which results in the fusion gene PML-RAR-α. The introduction of all-trans- retinoic acid (ATRA) was a major advance in treatment of this disease. This agent induces terminal differentiation of malignant myeloid cells to mature neutrophils, and its side effects are usually well tolerated in children. ATRA does not eradicate the malignant myeloid clone in APL and, eventually, resistance develops. Arsenic trioxide induces nonterminal differentiation of malignant promyelocytes and promotes apoptosis. APL patients treated with ATRA or arsenic trioxide have rapid resolution of their coagulopathy. Because both of these drugs are well tolerated in children and their synergy has been shown in animal models, the possibility of combining ATRA and arsenic trioxide in frontline therapy for children with APL is being considered.     

Advances in therapies for acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a distinct subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), results from the arrest of the maturation of hematopoietic progenitors at the promyelocyte stage. It has been shown that APL is associated with a reciprocal chromosomal translocation, involving chromosomes 15 and 17, which fuses the gene encoding the retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) and the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene. The resultant PML-RARα fusion protein plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of APL. Although there are many subtypes of AML, all are typically managed using a standard chemotherapy regimen of an anthracycline plus cytarabine arabinoside (CA). Despite high rates of complete remission following standard chemotherapy, most patients relapse and long-term disease-free survival is only 30-40%. The introduction of drugs such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) that promote progenitor differentiation by directly inhibiting the PML-RARα fusion protein has changed the treatment paradigm for APL and markedly improved patient survival. The purposes of the present review are to provide the latest results and future directions of clinical research into APL and to illustrate how new therapies, such as ATRA plus anthracycline-based induction and consolidation therapy, risk-adapted therapy, salvage therapy containing arsenic trioxide-based regimens, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, have improved the treatment outcomes for APL patients.     

All-trans retinoic acid in the treatment of pediatric acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia with specific epidemiological, pathogenetic and clinical features. Its frequency varies widely among nations, with a decreased incidence among ‘Nordic’ origin populations. The molecular hallmark of the disease is the presence of a balanced reciprocal translocation resulting in the PML/RAR-α gene fusion, which represents the target of the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy. The introduction of ATRA in conjunction with anthracyclines marked a turning point in the treatment of APL, previously associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Nowadays the standard front-line therapy for pediatric APL includes ATRA in every phase of the treatment, resulting in a complete remission rate of 90–95%. Here we provide an overview of the role of ATRA in the treatment of pediatric APL, summarizing the most relevant clinical results of recent decades and investigating future therapeutic perspectives for children with APL.     

早幼粒白血病-维甲酸受体α融合蛋白对RIAM基因转录的负调控作用探讨

目的:研究异常转录因子早幼粒白血病-维甲酸受体α(promyelocytic leukemia-retinoic acid receptor alpha,PML-RARα)融合蛋白对RIAM基因的转录调控机制.方法:利用表达谱数据库(GSE1159)比较RIAM基因在急性髓系白血病(acute myeloid leukemia,AML)各亚型中的表达情况,以及RIAM基因和PML-RARα融合蛋白之间的相关性.采用蛋白质印迹法和实时荧光定量-PCR法分别检测PML-RARα融合蛋白和RIAM基因在急性早幼粒细胞白血病(acute promyelocytic leukemia,APL)模式细胞株PR9及APL患者来源的细胞株NB4中的表达情况,以及在全反式维甲酸(all-trans retinoic acid,ATRA)处理前后的RIAM mRNA的表达情况.利用染色质免疫沉淀技术检测细胞内PML-RARα融合蛋白在RIAM基因启动子附近的结合情况.结果:RIAM基因在APL(即M3型AML)中的表达水平明显低于其他AML亚型(M0、M1、M2、M4、M5和M7型)和正常造血细胞(P＜0.05).随着PML-RARα融合蛋白的表达,RIAM基因的表达水平明显降低.ATRA能激活RIAM基因的表达,且PML-RARα融合蛋白的表达能增强ATRA对RIAM基因表达的激活效应.PML-RARα融合蛋白结合在RIAM基因的启动子区域.结论:RIAM基因是PML-RARα融合蛋白的靶基因,PML-RARα融合蛋白通过结合到RIAM基因的启动子区域对其转录进行负调控.     

Tetrandrine induces autophagy and differentiation by activating ROS and Notch1 signaling in leukemia cells

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a differentiating agent for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, the therapeutic efficacy of ATRA has limitations. Tetrandrine is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb extract with antitumor effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of tetrandrine on human PML-RARα-positive acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Tetrandrine inhibited tumors in vivo. It induced autophagy and differentiation by triggering ROS generation and activating Notch1 signaling. Tetrandrine induced autophagy and differentiation in M5 type patient primary leukemia cells. The in vivo results indicated that low concentrations of tetrandrine inhibited leukemia cells proliferation and induced autophagy and then facilitated their differentiation, by activating ROS and Notch1 signaling. We suggest that tetrandrine is a potential agent for the treatment of APL by inducing differentiation of leukemia cells.     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia in childhood

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a relatively rare form of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In the United States, APL in children constitutes only 5% to 10% of AML. Molecularly, the disease is characterized by a fusion protein, promyelocytic leukemia (PML)-retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-α that results from a balanced reciprocal translocation between the PML gene on chromosome 15 and the RAR-α (RARA) gene on chromosome 17. A major advance in the field of APL treatment has been the use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Advances in the treatment of APL have taken this form of AML from a disease with significant morbidity and mortality to one with an excellent outcome. This has resulted largely from the incorporation of ATRA into frontline regimens with chemotherapy. Anthracyclines remain a cornerstone of treatment at this point. Recent trials have shown a role for arsenic trioxide in both newly diagnosed and relapsed APL.     

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia complicating multiple myeloma: evidence of different cell lineages

The association of leukemia and multiple myeloma is well described usually as a complication of chemotherapy but also in the absence of chemotherapy or at diagnosis. Such leukemias are typically acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly myelomonocytic subtype, and cases of acute promyelocytic leuke (APL) are rarely reported. Controversy exists as to whether myeloma and AML originate from a single haematopoietic progenitor or arise from different cell lineages. We report a case of a 58 year old female who developed APL 10 months following diagnosis of nonsecretory light chain (kappa) myeloma which had been treated with local spinal irradiation and low dose oral melphalan and prednisone. Clonality had originally been demonstrated by light chain restriction (kappa) of her bone marrow plasma cells whilst immunoglobulin heavy chain and T cell receptor genes were germ line. At development of APL cytogenetics revealed t(15;17) and PML-RAR fusion gene was detected by RT-PCR. The patient was treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and received 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with Idarubicin. Following this therapy the t(15;17) and PML-RAR were both undetectable whilst the clonal population of kappa staining plasma cells persisted. This particular patient represents a rare case of APL complicating multiple myeloma with persistence of the myeloma clone but disappearance of PML-RAR alpha RNA following therapy. This case study appears to support the argument that the APL and myeloma originated from distinct cell lineages.     

Masked t(15;17) APL with the insertion of PML–RARα fusion gene in 4q21

Most cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) are characterized by the reciprocal translocation t(15;17); however, several complex variant translocations have also been reported. Here we report complex cytogenetic abnormalities without t(15;17) assayed by the G-banding method in a 62-year-old woman with the typical morphology and clinical features of APL. Based on spectral karyotyping and FISH analyses, we confirm the insertion of a cryptic chromosomal segment containing the PML/RARα fusion gene. The patient achieved complete remission after treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) alone. Although the mechanism of this cryptic variant insertion is not known, we conclude that the insertion of PML–RARα fusion into 4q21 seems not to alter the effectiveness of treatment with ATRA.     

自噬在急性早幼粒细胞白血病中的研究进展

急性早幼粒细胞白血病（APL）具有特征性的t（15;17）（q22;q21）染色体易位,其表达PML-RARα融合蛋白。全反式维甲酸（ATRA）和三氧化二砷（As2O3）诱导早幼粒白血病细胞分化或凋亡,使APL成为第一种可以治愈的白血病。自噬是维持细胞稳态的重要代谢方式之一,最近有研究显示自噬在ATRA／As2O3诱导治疗中发挥重要作用,而且还可能影响APL对药物诱导凋亡作用的敏感性。因此,今后靶向自噬、调控自噬可能成为APL乃至于其他白血病治疗的一种新手段。对近年来自噬对APL的作用研究进行综述。     

Differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells by plant redifferentiation-inducing hormones

Although differentiation therapy for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) using all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has now been established, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with other than APL only show a limited clinical response to ATRA. We must consider novel therapeutic drugs against other AML to develop a differentiation therapy for leukemia. Regulators that play an important role in the differentiation and development of plants may also affect the differentiation of human leukemia cells through a common signal transduction system, and might be clinically useful for treating AML. Cytokinins are important purine derivatives that serve as hormones that control many processes in plants. Cytokinins such as kinetin, isopentenyladenine (IPA) and benzyladenine were very effective at inducing nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction and morphological changes in human myeloid leukemia cells into mature granulocytes. On the other hand, cytokinin ribosides such as kinetin riboside, isopentenyladenosine (IPAR) and benzyladenine riboside were the most potent for inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis. When the cells were incubated with cytokinin ribosides in the presence of an O 2 - scavenger, antioxidant or caspase inhibitor, apoptosis was significantly reduced and differentiation was greatly enhanced. These results suggest that both cytokinins and cytokinin ribosides can induce the granulocytic differentiation of HL-60 cells, but cytokinin ribosides also induce apoptosis prior to differentiation. Cotylenin A has been isolated as a plant growth regulator exhibits cytokinin-like activity. Although it has a different structure than cytokinins, it also induces the differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells. These results suggest that there is an association between the action of plant redifferentiation-inducing hormones and the mechanism of the differentiation of human leukemia cells.     

Acute promyelocytic leukemia: recent advances in diagnosis and management

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a distinct subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by a specific genetic alteration, affecting the retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RARalpha), and leading to a blockage in the differentiation of the granulocytic cells. The accumulation of the promyelocytic blasts in the bone marrow produces intense peripheral blood cytopenias or, less commonly, hyperleucocytosis, both of which are frequently associated with a life-threatening consumptive coagulopathy. The body of available biological information on APL establishes this leukemia as a unique entity that has to be promptly recognized and clearly distinguished from all other acute leukemias, especially in light of its striking response to treatment with anthracyclines and differentiating agents such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or arsenic trioxide (ATO). Current state-of-the-art treatments, which include simultaneous administration of ATRA and anthracycline-based chemotherapy for induction and consolidation, as well as ATRA-based maintenance, have dramatically transformed APL into the most curable acute leukemia in adults, with approximately 80% of long-term survivors. Risk-adapted strategies to modulate treatment intensity may be an effective approach to minimizing therapy-related morbidity and mortality while maintaining the potential of cure. Nonetheless, a sizeable proportion of patients will relapse after the ATRA-based upfront therapy. Given the high anti-leukemic efficacy observed with ATO in patients who relapse, this agent is currently regarded as the best treatment option in this setting. In this article, we will review the current treatment strategies in the management of newly diagnosed and relapsed APL. We also highlight other aspects that can be crucial for the outcome of individual patients, including supportive care, recognition and treatment of life-threatening complications, management of ATRA- and ATO-associated adverse events, and the role of minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring.     

Differentiation syndrome in non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia treated with the retinoid X receptor agonist bexarotene

Differentiation Syndrome, also known as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) syndrome, is a well-described clinical phenomenon occurring in patients with the M3 subtype of acute myeloid leukemia receiving ATRA chemotherapy. Bexarotene is a novel synthetic compound that selectively binds and activates retinoic X receptors, a subclass of retinoid receptors not targeted by ATRA. We report a patient with refractory non-M3 acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML) who developed differentiation syndrome during bexarotene monotherapy. This case emphasizes the importance of monitoring for differentiation syndrome among patients receiving retinoid therapies and demonstrates the ability of bexarotene to stimulate differentiation of leukemic blasts.     

All-trans retinoic acid and hematopoietic growth factors regulating the growth and differentiation of blast progenitors in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Although acute leukemia is generally thought to be characterized by maturation arrest, it has been shown that differentiation occurs in blast cells of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in vitro as well as in vivo, and that morphologically abnormal mature polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) often seen in patients with AML are possibly derived from spontaneously differentiating leukemic cells. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is an unique example in which these features of AML are evident in an almost complete form; administration of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induces differentiation of neoplastic cells into mature neutrophils and successfully induce complete remission in most patients. However, PMNs appearing during ATRA treatment are morphologically abnormal, as indicated not only by the presence of Auer rods but also by neutrophil secondary-granule deficiency that is commonly seen in AML. Moreover, ATRA has heterogeneous effects on the growth of blast progenitors in APL in different patients, being inhibitory, stimulatory or ineffective, which might account in part for the leukemia relapse in patients treated with ATRA alone. Hematopoietic growth factors regulate the growth of blast progenitors in APL. Among them, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is unique in that it preferentially stimulates clonal growth, but not self-renewal, in many APL cases, and synergistically enhances the differentiation-inducing effect of ATRA when used in combination. Many other compounds also exert such synergistic effects with ATRA, for which a variety of mechanisms have been suggested. It is crucial to precisely elucidate the functions of these molecules governing the growth/differentiation balance of AML blast progenitors and the mechanisms underlying their deregulated differentiation program in order to achieve effective differentiation therapy for patients with AML, not restricted to APL.     

The effects of retinoic Acid analogs on the blast cells of acute myeloblastic-leukemia in culture

The effects of retinoic acid (RA) analogues, Am80 and Ch55, on acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) cells, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, and normal bone marrow (BM) cells, were studied in vitro. These analogues have different binding affinity to RA receptors and cellular retinoic acid binding proteins (CRABP). All-trans RA (ATRA) showed various effects on the proliferation of AML cells and BM cells. These analogues showed similar effects. Regarding the differentiation of APL cells into neutrophils, Ch55 and Am80 were more potent than ATRA. Ch55, which does not bind to CRABP, may overcome the clinical problem of retinoid-resistance due to the induction of CRABP.