BCL-2 phosphorylation modulates sensitivity to the BH3 mimetic GX15-070 (Obatoclax) and reduces its synergistic interaction with bortezomib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell lymphoid neoplasm with deregulated apoptosis and overexpression of several antiapoptotic BCL-2 proteins. GX15-070/Obatoclax is a small-molecule BH3 mimetic compound that has shown activity against several hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. In the present work, we report that GX15-070 led to the disruption of BCL-2/BIM and MCL-1/BAK complexes in CLL cells, followed by the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. CLL cells showed lower sensitivity to GX15-070 than primary mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) ones, in correlation with higher levels of phosphorylated BCL-2 at serine 70 residue (pBCL-2(Ser70)) in CLL cells. Decrease in BCL-2 phosphorylation by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 inhibition increased CLL sensitivity to GX15-070, while blocking BCL-2 dephosphorylation using a PP2A antagonist reduced the activity of this BH3 mimetic. GX15-070 activity was increased by cotreatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib. However, as proteasome inhibition led to the accumulation of phosphorylated BCL-2, the degree of interaction between GX15-070 and bortezomib was regulated by basal pBCL-2(Ser70) levels. These results support the role of BCL-2 phosphorylation as a mechanism of resistance to BH3 mimetic compounds, and demonstrate that combination approaches including ERK inhibitors could enhance BH3 mimetics activity both alone or in combination with proteasome inhibitors.