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Updated: Jun 29, 2026

A Method for Screening and Validation of Resistant Mutations Against Kinase Inhibitors
Published on: December 7, 2014
Characteristics of dasatinib- and imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia cells
Seiichi Okabe1, Tetsuzo Tauchi, Kazuma Ohyashiki
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. okabe@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Purpose:
Although dual src-family kinase/BCR/ABL inhibitor, dasatinib (BMS-354825), provides therapeutic advantages to imatinib-resistant cells, the mechanism of dasatinib resistance was not fully known.
Experimental Design:
We used TF-1 BCR/ABL cells, by introducing the BCR/ABL gene into a leukemia cell line, TF-1 and K562, and established dasatinib- (BMS-R) and imatinib-resistant (IM-R) cells. We characterized chronic myelogenous leukemia drug-resistant cells and examined intracellular signaling.
Results:
The IC(50) of dasatinib was 0.75 nmol/L (TF-1 BCR/ABL), 1 nmol/L (K562), 7.5 nmol/L (TF-1 BCR/ABL IM-R), 10 nmol/L (K562 IM-R), 15 micromol/L (TF-1 BCR/ABL BMS-R), and 25 micromol/L (K562 BMS-R). The number of BCR/ABL copies in resistant cell lines was the same as the parental cell line by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. There was no mutation in Abl kinase. We found that protein levels of BCR/ABL were reduced in dasatinib-resistant cell lines. BCR/ABL protein was increased by treatment of an ubiquitin inhibitor. The Src kinase, Lck, as well as mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt were activated, but p21(WAF), phosphatase and tensin homologue was reduced in K562 BMS-R cells. Removal of dasatinib from the culture medium of K562 BMS-R cells led to apoptosis, and activated caspase 3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that the expression and protein activation signatures identified in this study provide insight into the mechanism of resistance to dasatinib and imatinib and may be of therapeutic chronic myelogenous leukemia value clinically.
Insights
This study reveals that reduced BCR/ABL protein levels contribute to dasatinib resistance in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Understanding these resistance mechanisms may improve future therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dasatinib is a dual src-family kinase/BCR/ABL inhibitor effective against imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
- The precise mechanisms underlying resistance to dasatinib, however, remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms responsible for resistance to dasatinib in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
- To investigate intracellular signaling pathways and protein expression in dasatinib-resistant CML cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Established imatinib-resistant (IM-R) and dasatinib-resistant (BMS-R) TF-1 BCR/ABL and K562 cell lines.
- Characterized drug-resistant cells using fluorescence in situ hybridization, western blotting, and analysis of intracellular signaling pathways (MAPK, Akt, Lck).
Main Results:
- No increase in BCR/ABL gene copy number or mutations were observed in resistant cells.
- Dasatinib resistance was associated with reduced BCR/ABL protein levels, which were restored by an ubiquitin inhibitor.
- Activation of Src kinase (Lck), MAPK, and Akt pathways, alongside reduced p21(WAF) and PTEN, was noted in resistant cells.
- Cessation of dasatinib treatment in resistant cells induced apoptosis, evidenced by caspase 3 and PARP activation.
Conclusions:
- Reduced BCR/ABL protein expression is a key mechanism of dasatinib resistance in CML.
- Aberrant intracellular signaling pathways contribute to the development of resistance.
- These findings offer insights into therapeutic strategies for overcoming dasatinib and imatinib resistance in CML.
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