In vitro activity: In addition to Pim, SGI-1776 also potently targets FLT3 (IC50 = 44nM). Treatment of AML cells with SGI-1776 results in a concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis. Importantly, SGI-1776 is also cytotoxic in AML primary cells, irrespective of FLT3 mutation status and results in Mcl-1 protein decline. Treatment of CLL cells with SGI-1776 results in a concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis. SGI-1776 induces apoptosis in CLL and that the mechanism involves Mcl-1 reduction. Apoptosis induction coupled with the inhibition of RNA synthesis is observed in CLL cells treated with SGI-1776. SGI-1776 exhibites cytotoxic activity in vitro with a median relative IC50 of 3.1 mM. SGI-1776 induces tumor growth inhibition meeting criteria for intermediate EFS T/C activity in 1 of 39 evaluable models. In contrast, SGI-1776 induces complete responses of subcutaneous MV4;11.

Kinase Assay: Kinase inhibition is measured by the use of radiometric assays performed by KinaseProfiler service. Assays contain a peptide substrate, known purified recombinant human kinases, gamma-labeled ATP, magnesium ion, and a fixed concentration (1 μM) of SGI-1776. In a final reaction volume of 25 μL, 5 to 10 mU of Pim1/2/3 is incubated with 8 mM of MOPS, pH 7.0; 0.2 mM ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; 100 μM KKRNRTLTV;10 mM MgAcetate; and [γ-32P-ATP] . The reaction is initiated by the addition of the MgATP mix. After incubation for 40 minutes at room temperature, the reaction is stopped by the addition of 5 μL of a 3% phosphoric acid solution. Then, 10 μL of the reaction is spotted onto a P30 filtermat and washed 3 times for 5 minutes in 75 mM phosphoric acid and once in methanol before it is dried and measured via a scintillation counter.

Cell Assay: Cells (MV-4-11, MOLM-13, and OCI-AML-3 cell lines) are cultured in IMDM (ATCC) supplemented with 10% FBS and grown in a 37oC incubator with 5% CO2. Cells are routinely tested for Mycoplasma infection using a commercially available kit. Cells are treated with DMSO or various concentrations of SGI-1776 for 24 hours. Cells (1×106) are washed, then resuspended in 100 μL of annexin binding buffer, mixed with 5 μL of FITC solution and 5 μL of propidium iodide (PI; 50 μg/mL) solution. For each sample, 1×104 cells are measured using a Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur flow cytometer

Blood. 2011 Jul 21;118(3):693-702; Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2012 Oct;59(4):749-52.