Lichuan Zheng, Kelvin K. W. Wong, Stephen S. Y. Lam, Garret M. K. Leung, Chenqinyao Li, Kwui-Wa Tong, Wing Lam, Xiao-yuan Zeng, Koon-Chuen Chan, Natalie Nok-Man Chan, Ka-Lam Ng, Chee-Chean Dang, Tsz-Ho Kwok, Sze-pui Tsui, Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Jason W. H. Wong, Suet-yi Leung, Anskar Y. H. Leung, Cheuk‐Him Man
FLT3-ITD inhibitors are approved for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment but relapse is common. In this study, the combined inhibition of FLT3-ITD signal and protein translation by QUIZartinib and Omacetaxine Mepesuccinate (QUIZOM) synergistically suppressed the most critical FLT3-ITD survival signals including mitochondrial respiration and proteostasis, which induced apoptosis and pro-inflammatory response. In a Phase 2 trial (NCT03135054) involving 40 chemo-refractory/unfit FLT3-ITD AML patients, QUIZOM achieved a composite complete remission (CRc) of 83%, a median leukemia-free survival (LFS) of 10 months (Range: 0.7-68.2 months) and a median overall survival (OS) of 12.9 months (Range: 1.8-69.2 months). 13/33 (39%) received allogeneic HSCT after a median of 143 days (Range: 53-367 days). Higher CRc rates were observed in patients with NPM1 mutations, DNMT3A mutations, and wild-type WT1. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of QUIZOM cohort revealed positive correlation between pro-inflammatory response in blasts, CD8 + T activation and clinical responsiveness. Further, we identified a leukemic stem cell (LSC) subpopulation with activated JNK/JUN/HSPA1B axis via PLD1-driven phosphatidylcholine metabolism, which promoted proteostasis and drove QUIZOM resistance. PLD1-inhibitor remodeled phospholipid metabolism, induced ferroptosis and restored QUIZOM response in LSC. Our findings provided the therapeutic and resistant mechanisms of QUIZOM and paved the way for targeted interventions in this AML subtype.