Chidamide and apatinib are therapeutically synergistic in acute myeloid leukemia stem and progenitor cells

BACKGROUND: Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are responsible for the initiation and perpetuation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and also represent leukemia relapse reservoirs with limited therapeutic approaches. Thus, additional treatment strategies are medical unmet needs to eliminate LSCs. METHODS: Cell counting kit-8 and Annexin-V-FITC/PI assays were used to examine the interaction of chidamide and apatinib on LSC-like cell lines (CD34(+)CD38(−) KG1α and Kasumi-1 cells) and primary CD34(+) AML cells. AML patient-derived xenografts were established to investigate the in vivo efficacy of the combined regimen. RNA sequencing, Glutamine uptake assay, oxygen consumption assay, and western blotting were employed to explore the molecule mechanism for the cytotoxicity of chidamide with or without apatinib against LSC-like cell lines and/or primary CD34(+) AML cells. RESULTS: In this study, chidamide and apatinib were synergisitc to diminish cell viability and induce apoptosis in CD34(+)CD38(−) KG1α and Kasumi-1 cells and in CD34(+) primary AML cells. Importantly, chidamide combined with apatinib had more powerful in reducing leukemia burden and improving prognosis than single drug alone in an AML PDX model without significant adverse effects. Chidamide cytotoxicity was associated with decreasing glutamine uptake. The therapeutic synergy of chidamide and apatinib correlated with reprogramming of energy metabolic pathways. In addition, inactivating the VEGFR function and reducing the anti-apoptotic ability of the Bcl2 family contributed to the synergism of chidamide and apatinib in CD34(+)CD38(−) KG1α cells and CD34(+) primary AML cells. CONCLUSION: Chidamide in combination with apatinib might be a promising therapeutic strategy to get rid of the population of AML stem and progenitor cells, and thus provide a potentially curative option in the treatment of patients with AML, although further clinical evaluations are required to substantiate the conclusion. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40164-022-00282-1.