Immunoregulatory effects of Lurbinectedin in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2020 May;69(5):813-824. doi: 10.1007/s00262-020-02513-y. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

Abstract

Despite significant therapeutic improvements chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains an incurable disease and there is a persistent pursuit of new treatment alternatives. Lurbinectedin, a selective inhibitor of active transcription of protein-coding genes, is currently in phase II/III clinical trials for solid tumors such as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the activity of Lurbinectedin on circulating mononuclear cells from CLL patients and to determine whether Lurbinectedin could affect the cross-talk between B-CLL cells and the tumor microenvironment. We found that Lurbinectedin induced a dose- and time-dependent death in all cell types evaluated, with B cells, monocytes and monocytic myeloid derived suppressor cells (Mo-MDSC) being the most susceptible populations. At sub-apoptotic doses, Lurbinectedin decreased the expression of CCR7 in B-CLL cells and impaired their migration towards CCL19 and CCL21. Furthermore, low concentrations of Lurbinectedin stimulated the synthesis of pro-IL1β in monocytes and nurse-like cells, without inducing the inflammasome activation. Altogether, these results indicate that Lurbinectedin might have antitumor activity in CLL due to its direct action on leukemic cells in combination with its effects on the tumor microenvironment. Our findings encourage further investigation of Lurbinectedin as a potential therapy for CLL.

Keywords: CCR7; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); IL1β; Lurbinectedin; Tumor microenvironment.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Carbolines / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL19 / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL19 / metabolism
  • Chemokine CCL21 / immunology
  • Chemokine CCL21 / metabolism
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / immunology
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / blood
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / immunology
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / drug effects
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells / metabolism
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Receptors, CCR7 / immunology
  • Receptors, CCR7 / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • CCL19 protein, human
  • CCL21 protein, human
  • CCR7 protein, human
  • Carbolines
  • Chemokine CCL19
  • Chemokine CCL21
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings
  • PM 01183
  • Receptors, CCR7