CPX-351 exploits the gut microbiota to promote mucosal barrier function, colonization resistance, and immune homeostasis

Giorgia Renga, Emilia Nunzi, Claudia Stincardini, Marilena Pariano, Matteo Puccetti, Giuseppe Pieraccini, Claudia Di Serio, Maurizio Fraziano, Noemi Poerio, Vasileios Oikonomou, Paolo Mosci, Enrico Garaci, Luana Fianchi, Livio Pagano, Luigina Romani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

CPX-351, a liposomal combination of cytarabine plus daunorubicin, has been approved for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed, therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or AML with myelodysplasia-related changes, because it improves survival and outcome of patients who received hematopoietic stem cell transplant compared with the continuous infusion of cytarabine plus daunorubicin (referred to as “7 + 3” combination). Because gut dysbiosis occurring in patients with AML during induction chemotherapy heavily affects the subsequent phases of therapy, we have assessed whether the superior activity of CPX-351 vs “7 + 3” combination in the real-life setting implicates an action on and by the intestinal microbiota. To this purpose, we have evaluated the impact of CPX-351 and “7 + 3” combination on mucosal barrier function, gut microbial composition and function, and antifungal colonization resistance in preclinical models of intestinal damage in vitro and in vivo and fecal microbiota transplantation. We found that CPX-351, at variance with “7 + 3” combination, protected from gut dysbiosis, mucosal damage, and gut morbidity while increasing antifungal resistance. Mechanistically, the protective effect of CPX-351 occurred through pathways involving both the host and the intestinal microbiota, namely via the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor–interleukin-22 (IL-22)–IL-10 host pathway and the production of immunomodulatory metabolites by anaerobes. This study reveals how the gut microbiota may contribute to the good safety profile, with a low infection-related mortality, of CPX-351 and highlights how a better understanding of the host-microbiota dialogue may contribute to pave the way for precision medicine in AML.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1628-1645
Number of pages18
JournalBlood
Volume143
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • leukemia

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