Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to enhance the anti-leukemia efficacy of venetoclax

The treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is developing towards “targeted therapy”, which faces challenges such as low sensitivity and drug resistance. Therefore, targeted drugs need to be used in combination with other drugs to overcome clinical problems. AML cells and animal models were used to determine the synergistic anti-leukemic effect of Dactolisib (BEZ235) and Venetoclax (ABT199) and explore its mechanism. In vitro experiments, we used cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), flow cytometry, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and Western blot to detect the anti-leukemic effects of ABT199 and BEZ235. In vivo experiments, female nude mice were injected subcutaneously with THP-1 cells to form tumors, evaluate the combined effect of ABT199 and BEZ235 by indicators such as tumor size, tumor weight, Ki67 and cleaved-Caspase3 staining. The mice's body weight and HE staining were used to evaluate the liver injury and adverse drug reactions. The combination of BEZ235 and ABT199 has a synergistic effect through promoting apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation. The BEZ235 increased the drug sensitivity of ABT199 by reducing the MCL-1 protein synthesis and promoted the degradation of MCL-1 protein, which is considered as the mechanism of reversing ABT199 resistance. Furthermore, the BEZ235 and ABT199 can synergistically enhance the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. The combination of BEZ235 and ABT199 exhibits a synergistic anti-tumor effect in AML by down-regulating MCL-1 protein.