CRISPR-Cas9 base editor screening identifies the spectrum of MEN1 mutations impacting menin inhibitors in clinical trials [RNA-Seq]
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE294623 | GEO | 2025/11/30
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Menin inhibitors have entered clinical trials for KMT2A-rearranged and NPM1 mutant acute leukemias and are demonstrating promising activity. CRISPR-Cas9 base editor screening previously predicted several MEN1 mutations that have arisen in patients receiving SNDX-5613 and confer menin inhibitor resistance. The extent to which MEN1 mutations will impact each menin inhibitor is currently unknown. We leveraged advances in CRISPR-Cas9 base editing technology to predict the MEN1 mutation profile that will impact five different menin inhibitors in clinical trials. We found key similarities (M327) and differences (C334, E368, V372) in the profile of MEN1 mutations that affect each compound. The co-crystal structure of menin bound to each compound suggests resistance mechanisms related to how each menin inhibitor binds in the KMT2A binding pocket of menin. Our in vitro and in vivo validation suggests that the MEN1 mutations identified and validated with this approach are likely to arise and impact all menin inhibitors.
2025-11-30 | GSE294624 | GEO
Project description:Small molecules that target the MENIN-KMT2A protein-protein interaction (Menin inhibitors) have recently entered clinical trials in lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A, MLL1) rearranged (KMT2A-r) and nucleophosmin mutant (NPM1c) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are demonstrating encouraging results. However, rationally chosen combination therapy is needed to improve responses and prevent resistance. We have previously identified IKZF1/IKAROS as a target in KMT2A-r AML and shown in preclinical models that IKAROS protein degradation with Lenalidomide or Iberdomide has modest single-agent activity yet can synergize with Menin inhibitors. Recently, the novel IKAROS degrader Mezigdomide was developed and has greatly enhanced IKAROS protein degradation. In this study we show that Mezigdomide has increased preclinical activity in vitro as a single-agent in KMT2A-r and NPM1c AML cell lines, including sensitivity in cell lines resistant to Lenalidomide and Iberdomide. Further, we demonstrate that Mezigdomide has the greatest capacity to synergize with and induce apoptosis in combination with Menin inhibitors. We show that the superior activity of Mezigdomide compared to Lenalidomide or Iberdomide is due to its increased depth, rate, and duration of IKAROS protein degradation. Single-agent Mezigdomide was efficacious in five patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of KMT2A-r and one NPM1c AML. The combination of Mezigdomide with a Menin inhibitor increased survival and prevented the development of recently described MEN1 mutations. These results support prioritization of Mezigdomide for early phase clinical trials in KMT2A-r and NPM1c AML, either as a single-agent or in combination with Menin inhibitors.
2024-02-15 | PXD041737 | Pride
Project description:Small molecules that target the MENIN-KMT2A protein-protein interaction (Menin inhibitors) have recently entered clinical trials in lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A, MLL1) rearranged (KMT2A-r) and nucleophosmin mutant (NPM1c) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are demonstrating encouraging results. However, rationally chosen combination therapy is needed to improve responses and prevent resistance. We have previously identified IKZF1/IKAROS as a target in KMT2A-r AML and shown in preclinical models that IKAROS protein degradation with Lenalidomide or Iberdomide has modest single-agent activity yet can synergize with Menin inhibitors. Recently, the novel IKAROS degrader Mezigdomide was developed and has greatly enhanced IKAROS protein degradation. In this study we show that Mezigdomide has increased preclinical activity in vitro as a single-agent in KMT2A-r and NPM1c AML cell lines, including sensitivity in cell lines resistant to Lenalidomide and Iberdomide. Further, we demonstrate that Mezigdomide has the greatest capacity to synergize with and induce apoptosis in combination with Menin inhibitors. We show that the superior activity of Mezigdomide compared to Lenalidomide or Iberdomide is due to its increased depth, rate, and duration of IKAROS protein degradation. Single-agent Mezigdomide was efficacious in five patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of KMT2A-r and one NPM1c AML. The combination of Mezigdomide with a Menin inhibitor increased survival and prevented the development of recently described MEN1 mutations. These results support prioritization of Mezigdomide for early phase clinical trials in KMT2A-r and NPM1c AML, either as a single-agent or in combination with Menin inhibitors.
2024-02-15 | PXD041735 | Pride
Project description:The chromatin adaptor protein Menin (MEN1) is required by acute leukemias driven by mixed lineage leukemia 1 gene rearrangements (KMT2A-r) for sustained leukemogenesis. Menin inhibitors (MIs), which disrupt the Menin-KMT2A interface leading to downregulation of Menin-KMT2A oncogenic transcriptional programs, have shown promising results in recent clinical trials treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Decreased Menin protein stability has been observed following treatment with several MIs though proteasomal degradation, though the biological mechanisms that control Menin stability are not well understood. Here we interrogate and compare five clinical MIs and two pre-clinical compounds to characterize the mechanism by which MIs induce Menin degradation and demonstrate that the loss of the Menin-KMT2A interaction results in decreased protein stability of Menin and KMT2A. We have identified the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR5 as a regulator of Menin protein stability and demonstrate that UBR5 binds to similar sites as the Menin/KMT2A complex on chromatin. Loss of UBR5 leads to transcriptional rescue of Menin-KMT2A target genes leading to decreased sensitivity to all MIs. Thus, we present UBR5 as an important regulator of Menin/KMT2A complex stability and Menin destabilization/subcellular localization as a designable feature of Menin inhibition targeting KMT2A-r leukemias.
2025-08-01 | GSE299103 | GEO
Project description:The chromatin adaptor protein Menin (MEN1) is required by acute leukemias driven by mixed lineage leukemia 1 gene rearrangements (KMT2A-r) for sustained leukemogenesis. Menin inhibitors (MIs), which disrupt the Menin-KMT2A interface leading to downregulation of Menin-KMT2A oncogenic transcriptional programs, have shown promising results in recent clinical trials treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Decreased Menin protein stability has been observed following treatment with several MIs though proteasomal degradation, though the biological mechanisms that control Menin stability are not well understood. Here we interrogate and compare five clinical MIs and two pre-clinical compounds to characterize the mechanism by which MIs induce Menin degradation and demonstrate that the loss of the Menin-KMT2A interaction results in decreased protein stability of Menin and KMT2A. We have identified the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR5 as a regulator of Menin protein stability and demonstrate that UBR5 binds to similar sites as the Menin/KMT2A complex on chromatin. Loss of UBR5 leads to transcriptional rescue of Menin-KMT2A target genes leading to decreased sensitivity to all MIs. Thus, we present UBR5 as an important regulator of Menin/KMT2A complex stability and Menin destabilization/subcellular localization as a designable feature of Menin inhibition targeting KMT2A-r leukemias.
2025-08-01 | GSE299100 | GEO
Project description:Pharmacologic targeting of epigenetic protein complexes has shown significant in vitro responses in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Early clinical trials in KMT2A-rearranged leukemia indicate rather transient responses and development of resistance. In an effort to define functional dependencies of KMT2A-fusions in AML, we identify the catalytic immunoproteasome subunit PSMB8 as a KMT2A-complex-specific vulnerability. Genetic and pharmacologic inactivation of PSMB8 results in impaired proliferation of murine and human leukemic cells while normal hematopoietic cells remain unaffected. Disruption of immunoproteasome function results in cellular enrichment of transcription factor BASP1, and consecutive repression of KMT2A-target genes. Pharmacologic targeting of PSMB8 improves efficacy of Menin-inhibitors, eradicates leukemia in primary human xenografts and shows preserved activity against Menin-inhibitor resistance mutations. This identifies and validates a cell-intrinsic mechanism whereby selective disruption of proteostasis results in altered transcription factor abundance and repression of oncogene-specific transcriptional networks. Therapeutic targeting of PSMB8-dependent transcription in combination with Menin-inhibition could thus eradicate KMT2A-complex driven AML.
2024-01-26 | PXD041245 | Pride
Project description:Loss-of-function mutations of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) gene are causal to the MEN1 tumor syndrome, but they are also commonly found in sporadic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and other types of cancers. The MEN1 gene product, menin, is involved in transcriptional and chromatin regulation, most prominently as an integral component of KMT2A/MLL1 and KMT2B/MLL2 containing COMPASS-like histone H3K4 methyltransferase complexes. In a mutually exclusive fashion, menin also interacts with the JunD subunit of the AP-1 and ATF/CREB transcription factors. After in silico screening of 253 disease-related MEN1 missense mutations, we selected a set of nine menin mutations in surface-exposed residues. The protein interactomes of these mutants were assessed by quantitative mass spectrometry, which indicated that seven of the nine mutants disrupt interactions with both MLL1/2 and JunD complexes in the nucleus. We identified three missense mutations, R52G, E255K and E359K, which display predominant reduction in interaction with MLL1 compared to JunD. This observation was supported by a pronounced loss of binding of the R52G, E255K and E359K mutant proteins at unique MLL1 genomic binding sites with less effect on unique JunD sites. These findings support the general importance of the menin-MLL1 and menin-JunD interactions in MEN1 gene-associated pathogenic conditions.
2022-10-14 | PXD031928 | Pride
Project description:Inhibitors of the Menin-KMT2A interaction are promising agents for the treatment of KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A-r) leukemias. We evaluated Menin inhibition in patient derived xenografts of KMT2A-r leukemias with high-risk features. Three AMLs with high-risk fusion partners (MLLT10, MLLT4) and two infant ALL samples were sensitive to Menin inhibition. We also evaluated serial samples from two patients with multiply relapsed ALL. We found that highly pretreated KMT2A::AFF1 ALL samples were much less sensitive compared to cells obtained earlier in the same patients’ disease course. Since none of the patients had been treated with a Menin inhibitor, resistance in these highly pretreated samples was acquired in the absence to Menin inhibitor exposure. Transcriptomic analysis documented sustained on-target efficacy towards the canonical targets in the Menin-inhibitor in resistant cells. Targeted genomic analysis documented the emergence of multiple co-mutations, including RAS pathway and TP53 mutations, although neither was sufficient to induce Menin-inhibitor resistance in vitro. Downregulation of KMT3D may account for resistance in one patients; inactivation of KMT2C/D has been reported to result in Menin inhibitor resistance, and KMT2C-edited cells from this patient were selected for in VTP containing growth conditions. Future studies will need to clarify more broadly which genomic/epigenomic alterations drive upfront resistance. Regardless of mechanism, our data supports using Menin-inhibitors upfront or in early lines of therapy before substantial genomic or epigenomic evolution has occurred.
2025-11-14 | GSE309882 | GEO
Project description:Acute myeloid leukemias (AML) patients bearing chromosomal rearrangements of KMT2A or MLL gene (KMT2A -r) have poor overall survival. Recently, compounds targeting the KMT2A fusion protein complex, such as DOT1L and Menin inhibitors, have shown promising pre-clinical efficacy. Yet, molecular regulators of the anti-tumor activities of these agents remain poorly studied. UTX is a histone H3K27 demethylase with recurrent loss-of-function mutations in human cancers including leukemia. UTX-null leukemia shows greater resistance to chemotherapy agents. However, the impact of UTX on drug resistance of KMT2A -r AML has not been explored. Through a epigenetic compound screen, we identified a unique role of UTX in the regulation of DOT1L and Menin therapies in KMT2A-r AML. Loss of UTX confers resistance to DOT1L and Menin inhibition in an MLL target gene-independent manner. Mechanistically, We show that UTX is required for activation of myeloid differentiation programs induced by DOT1L inhibition. We also revealed BCL2A1 as a target of UTX. Depletion of UTX increased vulnerability to BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax in vitro and in vivo, and combinational treatment of venetoclax could overcome the therapeutic resistance to DOT1L inhibition caused by UTX loss. Our study provides new insights into the role of UTX in therapeutic responses in KMT2A-r AML.
2022-11-01 | GSE214275 | GEO
Project description:Acute myeloid leukemias (AML) patients bearing chromosomal rearrangements of KMT2A or MLL gene (KMT2A -r) have poor overall survival. Recently, compounds targeting the KMT2A fusion protein complex, such as DOT1L and Menin inhibitors, have shown promising pre-clinical efficacy. Yet, molecular regulators of the anti-tumor activities of these agents remain poorly studied. UTX is a histone H3K27 demethylase with recurrent loss-of-function mutations in human cancers including leukemia. UTX-null leukemia shows greater resistance to chemotherapy agents. However, the impact of UTX on drug resistance of KMT2A -r AML has not been explored. Through a epigenetic compound screen, we identified a unique role of UTX in the regulation of DOT1L and Menin therapies in KMT2A-r AML. Loss of UTX confers resistance to DOT1L and Menin inhibition in an MLL target gene-independent manner. Mechanistically, We show that UTX is required for activation of myeloid differentiation programs induced by DOT1L inhibition. We also revealed BCL2A1 as a target of UTX. Depletion of UTX increased vulnerability to BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax in vitro and in vivo, and combinational treatment of venetoclax could overcome the therapeutic resistance to DOT1L inhibition caused by UTX loss. Our study provides new insights into the role of UTX in therapeutic responses in KMT2A-r AML.
2022-11-01 | GSE214158 | GEO