High efficacy of the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT199 (venetoclax) in BCL-2 high-expressing neuroblastoma cell lines and xenografts and rational for combination with MCL-1 inhibition.

The anti-apoptotic protein B cell lymphoma/leukaemia 2 (BCL-2) is highly expressed in neuroblastoma and plays an important role in oncogenesis. In this study, the selective BCL-2 inhibitor ABT199 was tested in a panel of neuroblastoma cell lines with diverse expression levels of BCL-2 and other BCL-2 family proteins. ABT199 caused apoptosis more potently in neuroblastoma cell lines expressing high BCL-2 and BIM/BCL-2 complex levels than low expressing cell lines.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor AT7519 as a Potential Drug for MYCN-Dependent Neuroblastoma.

Purpose: MYCN-dependent neuroblastomas have low cure rates with current multimodal treatment regimens and novel therapeutic drugs are therefore urgently needed. In previous preclinical studies, we have shown that targeted inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) resulted in specific killing of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cells. This study describes the in vivo preclinical evaluation of the CDK inhibitor AT7519.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for the light sensitive survivin suppressant sepantronium bromide (YM155) in mouse plasma.

A quantitative bioanalytical liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) assay for sepantronium bromide (YM155), an inhibitor of survivin, was developed and validated. Under reduced light exposure, plasma samples were pre-treated using protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing AT7519 as internal standard. After dilution with water, the extract was directly injected into the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic system.

Newly-derived neuroblastoma cell lines propagated in serum-free media recapitulate the genotype and phenotype of primary neuroblastoma tumours.

Recently protocols have been devised for the culturing of cell lines from fresh tumours under serum-free conditions in defined neural stem cell medium. These cells, frequently called tumour initiating cells (TICs) closely retained characteristics of the tumours of origin. We report the isolation of eight newly-derived neuroblastoma TICs from six primary neuroblastoma tumours and two bone marrow metastases.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric assay for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor AT7519 in mouse plasma.

A quantitative bioanalytical liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) assay for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor AT7519 in mouse plasma was developed and validated. Plasma samples were pre-treated using protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing rucaparib as internal standard. After dilution with water, the extract was directly injected into the reversed-phase LC system.

Targeted BCL2 inhibition effectively inhibits neuroblastoma tumour growth.

Genomic aberrations of key regulators of the apoptotic pathway have hardly been identified in neuroblastoma. We detected high BCL2 mRNA and protein levels in the majority of neuroblastoma tumours by Affymetrix expression profiling and Tissue Micro Array analysis. This BCL2 mRNA expression is strongly elevated compared to normal tissues and other malignancies.

GRK2: a novel cell-specific regulator of severity and duration of inflammatory pain.

Chronic pain associated with inflammation is a common clinical problem, and the underlying mechanisms have only begun to be unraveled. GRK2 regulates cellular signaling by promoting G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) desensitization and direct interaction with downstream kinases including p38. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of GRK2 to regulation of inflammatory pain and to unravel the underlying mechanism.