Proteogenetic drug response profiling elucidates targetable vulnerabilities of myelofibrosis

Mattheus H E Wildschut1,2,3, Julien Mena1, Cyril Dördelmann4

  • 1Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Nature Communications
|October 12, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study identifies new drug targets for myelofibrosis, a stem cell disorder. Researchers found specific mutations, like Calreticulin (CALR), predict responses to certain therapies, offering a personalized treatment approach.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Myelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative neoplasm affecting hematopoietic stem cells.
  • Patients often have JAK2 or Calreticulin (CALR) mutations, with limited treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To integrate ex vivo drug response and proteotype data in myelofibrosis patients.
  • To discover targetable vulnerabilities and guide individualized therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • High-content imaging and single-cell deep learning analyzed drug sensitivities in patient blood.
  • Ex vivo drug response data was integrated with molecular profiling.

Main Results:

  • CALR mutations correlate with sensitivity to BET and HDAC inhibitors, especially without high Ras pathway activity.
  • A proliferative signature (MCM complex-high) indicates advanced disease and sensitivity to DNA replication and pro-survival drugs.
  • Homozygous CALR mutations lead to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, suggesting sensitivity to ER stressors and unfolded protein response inhibitors.

Conclusions:

  • Integrated analyses reveal three distinct targetable vulnerabilities in myelofibrosis.
  • Findings provide a molecularly-driven roadmap for personalized myelofibrosis treatment.