KP772 overcomes multiple drug resistance in malignant lymphoma and leukemia cells in vitro by inducing Bcl-2-independent apoptosis and upregulation of Harakiri

Despite high cure rates in pediatric patients with acute leukemia, development of resistance limits the efficacy of antileukemic therapy. Tris(1,10-phenanthroline)tris(thiocyanato-κN)lanthanum(III) (KP772) is an experimental antineoplastic agent to which multidrug-resistant cell models have shown hypersensitivity. Antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of KP772 were tested in leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor cell lines as well as primary leukemia cells (isolated from the bone marrow of a child with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The ability to overcome drug resistances was investigated in doxorubicin- and vincristine-resistant cell lines. Real-time PCR was used to gain insight into the mechanism of apoptosis induction. KP772 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in various leukemia and lymphoma cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner (LC(50) = 1–2.5 µM). Primary AML cells were also sensitive to KP772, whereas daunorubicin showed no significant effect. KP772 induces apoptosis independently of Bcl-2, Smac, and the CD95 receptor and is also effective in caspase 3-deficient MCF7 cells, indicating that apoptosis is partly triggered independently of caspase 3. mRNA expression profiling revealed an upregulation of the BH3-only Bcl-2 protein Harakiri in the course of KP772-induced apoptosis. Remarkably, KP772 overcame drug resistance to doxorubicin and vincristine in vitro, and the apoptotic effect in resistant cells was even superior to that in non-resistant parental cells. In combination with vincristine, doxorubicin and cytarabine, synergistic effects were observed in BJAB cells. The cytotoxic potency in vitro/ex vivo and the remarkable ability to overcome multidrug resistance propose KP772 as a promising candidate drug for antileukemic therapy, especially of drug-refractory malignancies. Graphic abstract [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00775-021-01900-9.