Abstract
Oncogenic transcription factors such as the leukemic fusion protein RUNX1/ETO, which drives t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), constitute cancer-specific but highly challenging therapeutic targets. We used epigenomic profiling data for an RNAi screen to interrogate the transcriptional network maintaining t(8;21) AML. This strategy identified Cyclin D2 (CCND2) as a crucial transmitter of RUNX1/ETO-driven leukemic propagation. RUNX1/ETO cooperates with AP-1 to drive CCND2 expression. Knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of CCND2 by an approved drug significantly impairs leukemic expansion of patient-derived AML cells and engraftment in immunodeficient murine hosts. Our data demonstrate that RUNX1/ETO maintains leukemia by promoting cell cycle progression and identifies G1 CCND-CDK complexes as promising therapeutic targets for treatment of RUNX1/ETO-driven AML.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 626-642.e8 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Cancer Cell |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 8 Oct 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- RNAi screen
- fusion gene
- cell-cycle control
- CDK6 inhibition
- RUNX1/ETO
- CCND2
- acute myeloid leukemia
- palbociclib
- KIT mutation
- imatinib