Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Intracellular Phosphoflow Cytometry of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient-Derived Xenotransplants
Published on: June 6, 2025
The CIpP activator, TR-57, is highly effective as a single agent and in combination with venetoclax against CLL cells
Narjis Fatima1,2, Yandong Shen1,2, Kyle Crassini1
1Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
Abstract:
Despite advances in treatment, a significant proportion of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) will relapse with drug-resistant disease. The imipridones, ONC-201 and ONC-212, are effective against a range of different cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and tumors of the brain, breast, and prostate. These drugs induce cell death through activation of the mitochondrial protease, caseinolytic protease (CIpP), and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here we demonstrate that the novel imipridone analog, TR-57, has efficacy as a single agent and synergises with venetoclax against CLL cells under in vitro conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment. Changes in protein expression suggest TR-57 activates the UPR, inhibits the AKT and ERK1/2 pathways and induces pro-apoptotic changes in the expression of proteins of the BCL-2 family. The study suggests that TR-57, as a single agent and in combination with venetoclax, may represent an effective treatment option for CLL.

