LCK over-expression drives STAT5 oncogenic signaling in PAX5 translocated BCP-ALL patients

Oncotarget. 2015 Jan 30;6(3):1569-81. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2807.

Abstract

The PAX5 gene is altered in 30% of BCP-ALL patients and PAX5 chromosomal translocations account for 2-3% of cases. Although PAX5 fusion genes significantly affect the transcription of PAX5 target genes, their role in sustaining leukemia cell survival is poorly understood. In an in vitro model of PAX5/ETV6 leukemia, we demonstrated that Lck hyper-activation, and down-regulation of its negative regulator Csk, lead to STAT5 hyper-activation and consequently to the up-regulation of the downstream effectors, cMyc and Ccnd2. More important, cells from PAX5 translocated patients show LCK up-regulation and over-activation, as well as STAT5 hyper-phosphorylation, compared to PAX5 wt and PAX5 deleted cases. As in BCR/ABL1 positive ALL, the hyper-activation of STAT5 pathway can represent a survival signal in PAX5 translocated cells, alternative to the pre-BCR, which is down-regulated. The LCK inhibitor BIBF1120 selectively reverts this phenomenon both in the murine model and in leukemic primary cells. LCK inhibitor could therefore represent a suitable candidate drug to target this subgroup of ALL patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • ETS Translocation Variant 6 Protein
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • PAX5 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • PAX5 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / biosynthesis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • PAX5 Transcription Factor
  • PAX5 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets
  • Repressor Proteins
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)