Establishment of a high-risk pediatric AML-derived cell line YCU-AML2 with genetic and metabolic vulnerabilities.

Abstract

The prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with KMT2A::MLLT3 rearrangement and MECOM overexpression and/or KRAS mutation is dismal, and the optimal treatment strategy remains unclear. However, to the best of our knowledge, a suitable model (such as a cell line or its xenograft model) for research on this subtype has not been established. We established a novel AML cell line, YCU-AML2, and its xenograft model harboring KMT2A::MLLT3 rearrangement, MECOM overexpression, and KRAS G12A mutation. YCU-AML2 xenograft mice models developed AML and mimicked the clinical phenotype of the original patient. YCU-AML2 expressed high sensitivity to MEK inhibitors, such as trametinib and selumetinib. Moreover, YCU-AML2 also exhibited high sensitivity to L-asparaginase with glutaminase activity, perhaps because of its reliance on oxidative phosphorylation via glutaminolysis as its main energy source. We believe that the YCU-AML2 cell line and its xenograft model can serve as models to explore the molecular pathogenesis of high-risk AML with KMT2A::MLLT3 rearrangement, MECOM overexpression, and/or KRAS mutation and develop new treatment strategies.