Functional Combination of Resveratrol and Midostaurin Induces Cytotoxicity to Overcome Acquired Midostaurin Resistance in FLT3-ITD Expressing Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Abstract

The most important challenge in treating FLT3-ITD AML is the development of resistance to FLT3 inhibitors, such as midostaurin, via both FLT3-dependent and FLT3-independent mechanisms. The study explored the potential cytotoxic effects of combining resveratrol and midostaurin on the sensitization of midostaurin-resistant cells. MTT assay revealed resveratrol's chemo-sensitizing influence on midostaurin-resistant cells, and combination indexes (CI) were calculated using Chou-Talalay's method. Apoptosis induction and cell cycle progression was analyzed by flow cytometry. The apoptotic molecular markers caspase 3, PARP, Bcl-2, and Bax were analyzed using a western blot. Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK-1) expression, total and phosphorylated FLT3, and STAT5A levels were measured using western blotting. Resveratrol enhanced the cytotoxic effects of midostaurin additively in resistant MV4-11MR and MOLM-13MR cells. It effectively reversed midostaurin resistance by inhibiting the activating phosphorylation of FLT3, STAT5A, and modulating the expression of SK-1 while concurrently increasing the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP without noticeable alterations in Bax/Bcl-2 ratios except MV4-11MR cells. Additionally, there was an arrest at the S or G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, depending on the resistant cells, compared to midostaurin alone, but not to the control group. In conclusion, the FLT3/STAT5A axis and SK-1 might play an important role in the reversal of midostaurin resistance by resveratrol. Therefore, the concurrent administration of resveratrol plus midostaurin could potentially serve as a therapeutic approach to address midostaurin resistance and enhance the overall therapy efficacy for FLT3-ITD AML patients after being validated with future in vivo and ex vivo studies.