Phosphoproteomics reveals novel BCR::ABL1-independent mechanisms of resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia

Abstract

BCR::ABL1 drives chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) disease and treatment, as revealed by the success of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. However, additional poorly characterized molecular pathways, acting as BCR::ABL1 independent mechanisms, play crucial roles in CML, contributing to leukemic stem cells (LSCs) persistence, TKI resistance and disease progression. Here, by combining high sensitive mass spectrometry (MS)-based phosphoproteomics with the SignalingProfiler pipeline, we obtained two signaling maps offering a comprehensive description of the BCR::ABL1 dependent and independent pro-survival signalling mechanisms. We leveraged these maps to unbiasedly and systematically discover therapeutic vulnerabilities, by implementing the Druggability Score computational algorithm. By this strategy, and in combination with in vitro and in ex vivo functional assays, we show a crucial role of acquired FLT3-dependency in resistant CML models. In conclusion, we reposition FLT3, one of the most frequently mutated drivers of acute leukemia, as a potential therapeutic target for TKI resistant CML patients.