Antiproliferative Activity of Cephalotaxus Esters: Overcoming Chemoresistance

Omacetaxine, a semisynthetic form of Homoharringtonine (HHT), was approved for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Previously, we have published the synthesis of this natural alkaloid and three of its derivatives: Deoxyharringtonine (DHT), Deoxyhomoharringtonine (DHHT), and Bis(demethyl)-deoxyharringtonine (BDHT), and reported its refractory activity against the HL-60/RV+ cells over-expressing P-glycoprotein 1 (MDR1).

In this study, we have explored the extent of this resistance by first expanding the panel of established cell lines and using a panel of 21 leukemia patient-derived primary cells.

Herein, we have reported consistent resistance to HTT of K562-derived cells and to mitoxantrone of MES-SA/MX2-derived cells; all of them have been found to overexpress MDR1, while we have found U87MG-ABCG2 and H69AR cells to be very sensitive to HTT. In contrast, DHT, DHHT, and BDHT seemingly overcame this resistance due to the changes made to the acyl chain of HTT, rendering the derivatives less susceptible to efflux. Surprisingly, the leukemia primary cells were very sensitive to HHT and its derivatives with low nanomolar potencies, followed by a new class of CDC7 kinase inhibitors, the anthracycline class of topoisomerase inhibitors, the DNA intercalator actinomycin-D, and the vinca alkaloid class of microtubule inhibitors. The mechanism of cell death induced by HTT and DHHT was found to be mediated via caspase 3 cleavage, leading to apoptosis.

Taken together, our results confirm that HHT is a substrate for MDR1. It opens the door to a new opportunity to clinically evaluate HHT and its derivatives for the treatment of AML and other cancers.