Imipridone ONC212 activates orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR132 and integrated stress response in acute myeloid leukemia

Takenobu Nii, Varun V. Prabhu, Vivian Ruvolo, Neel Madhukar, Ran Zhao, Hong Mu, Lauren Heese, Yuki Nishida, Kensuke Kojima, Mathew J. Garnett, Ultan McDermott, Cyril H. Benes, Neil Charter, Sean Deacon, Olivier Elemento, Joshua E. Allen, Wolfgang Oster, Martin Stogniew, Jo Ishizawa, Michael Andreeff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Imipridones constitute a novel class of antitumor agents. Here, we report that a second-generation imipridone, ONC212, possesses highly increased antitumor activity compared to the first-generation compound ONC201. In vitro studies using human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines, primary AML, and normal bone marrow (BM) samples demonstrate that ONC212 exerts prominent apoptogenic effects in AML, but not in normal BM cells, suggesting potential clinical utility. Imipridones putatively engage G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and/or trigger an integrated stress response in hematopoietic tumor cells. Comprehensive GPCR screening identified ONC212 as activator of an orphan GPCR GPR132 and Gαq signaling, which functions as a tumor suppressor. Heterozygous knock-out of GPR132 decreased the antileukemic effects of ONC212. ONC212 induced apoptogenic effects through the induction of an integrated stress response, and reduced MCL-1 expression, a known resistance factor for BCL-2 inhibition by ABT-199. Oral administration of ONC212 inhibited AML growth in vivo and improved overall survival in xenografted mice. Moreover, ONC212 abrogated the engraftment capacity of patient-derived AML cells in an NSG PDX model, suggesting potential eradication of AML initiating cells, and was highly synergistic in combination with ABT-199. Collectively, our results suggest ONC212 as a novel therapeutic agent for AML.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2805-2816
Number of pages12
JournalLeukemia
Volume33
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2019

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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