Abstract 3269: Dual targeting of FLT3 and LSD1 disrupts the MYC super-enhancer complex in acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Abstract Clinical responses to kinase inhibitor therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are limited by development of resistance. A major contributor of resistance is epigenetic adaptation to kinase inhibitor therapy. We present evidence that inhibition of the epigenetic regulator lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) augments the response to inhibitors of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) in FLT3-mutant AML. We demonstrate that combined FLT3 and LSD1 inhibition results in synergistic cell death of FLT3-mutant AML cell lines and primary patient samples. High-resolution epigenetic sequencing revealed that the combination therapy synergistically suppresses pro-proliferative MYC-bound promoters and activates pro-differentiative PU.1-bound enhancers. Regulon enrichment analysis in primary AML samples nominated STAT5 (a downstream target of activated FLT3 signaling) as a putative regulator of MYC gene expression. STAT5 is highly bound to the MYC blood super-enhancer and FLT3 inhibition results in a loss of both STAT5 binding and MYC blood super-enhancer chromatin accessibility. In contrast, LSD1 inhibition suppresses MYC target genes by accumulation of repressive H3K9me1 marks. We validated these findings in 72 primary AML samples, including 19 FLT3-ITD positive AML samples. The combination improved responses in the vast majority of patient samples, and high MYC regulon activity was a predictor of response. Gene expression profiling in treated primary AML samples confirmed that dual FLT3 and LSD1 inhibition activates PU.1 target genes and suppresses MYC target genes. Finally, single cell ATAC-seq on primary AML blasts treated ex vivo with combined FLT3 and LSD1 shifted cells from a MYC super-enhancer high to MYC super-enhancer low state. Collectively, these data provide preclinical rationale for the investigation of dual FLT3 and LSD1 inhibition in clinical trial. Citation Format: William M. Yashar, Brittany M. Smith, Jake VanCampen, Garth L. Kong, Jommel Macaraeg, Daniel J. Coleman, Brian J. Druker, Julia E. Maxson, Theodore P. Braun. Dual targeting of FLT3 and LSD1 disrupts the MYC super-enhancer complex in acute myeloid leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3269.