In vivo validation of the palmitoylation cycle as a therapeutic target in NRAS-mutant cancer. Mus musculus

Normal and oncogenic Ras proteins are functionally dependent on one or more lipid modifications. Whereas K-Ras4b farnesylation is sufficient for stable association with the plasma membrane, farnesylated H-Ras, K-Ras4a, and N-Ras traffic to the Golgi where they must undergo palmitoylation before regulated translocation to cell membranes. N-Ras palmitoylation by the DHHC family of palmitoyl acyl transferases and depalmitoylation by ABHD17 serine hydrolases is a dynamic process that is essential for the growth of acute myeloid leukemias harboring oncogenic NRAS mutations. Here, we have tested whether co-targeting ABHD17 enzymes and Ras signal output would induce chemical synthetic lethality in NRAS-mutant acute myeloid leukemias while sparing normal tissues that retain K-Ras4b function. We show that ABD778, a potent and selective ABHD17 inhibitor with in vivo activity, selectively reduces the growth of NRAS-mutant leukemias in vitro and is synergistic with the allosteric MEK inhibitor PD03259018. Similarly, ABD778 and PD901 significantly extended the survival of recipient mice transplanted with three independent primary mouse AMLs harboring an oncogenic NrasG12D driver mutation. Resistant AMLs that emerged during continuous drug treatment acquired by-pass mutations that confer adaptive drug resistance and increase mitogen activated protein kinase signal output. ABD778 augmented the anti-leukemia activity of the pan-PI3 kinase inhibitor pictilisib9, the K/N-RasG12C inhibitor sotorasib10, and the FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib11. Co-treatment with ABD778 and gilteritinib restored drug sensitivity in a patient-derived xenograft model of adaptive resistance to FLT3 inhibition. These data validate the palmitoylation cycle as a promising therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia and other NRAS-mutant cancers.