Anti-Leukemic Effects of Velcrin in SLFN12-Expressing Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Schlafen 12 (SLFN12) is a member of the Schlafen (SLFN) family of proteins, a group of interferon-stimulated genes with diverse roles in cellular regulation with implications for human malignancies. Accumulating evidence indicates that SLFN family proteins may serve as prognostic markers across various cancer types. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), SLFN12 is notably overexpressed, which prompted us to investigate its potential as a therapeutic target. Employing a panel of leukemia cell lines, we explored the effects of velcrins, a class of small molecules able to modulate SLFN12 biological activity. Mechanistic studies showed that velcrin treatment increases expression of SLFN12 and promotes SLFN12 complex formation with PDE3A or PDE3B. Functionally, these effects were associated with growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis. Further, velcrin treatment induced potent suppressive effects on the clonogenic capability of primary human AML progenitors and suppressed tumor growth and significantly extended survival in a mouse AML xenograft model. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of using velcrins as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AML patients.