Longitudinal omics data and preclinical treatment suggest the proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib as therapy for ibrutinib-resistant CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a malignant lymphoproliferative disorder for which primary or acquired drug resistance represents a major challenge. To investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we generate a mouse model of ibrutinib resistance, in which, after initial treatment response, relapse under therapy occurrs with an aggressive outgrowth of malignant cells, resembling observations in patients. A comparative analysis of exome, transcriptome and proteome of sorted leukemic murine cells during treatment and after relapse suggests alterations in the proteasome activity as a driver of ibrutinib resistance. Preclinical treatment with the irreversible proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib administered upon ibrutinib resistance prolongs survival of mice. Longitudinal proteomic analysis of ibrutinib-resistant patients identifies deregulation in protein post-translational modifications. Additionally, cells from ibrutinib-resistant patients effectively respond to several proteasome inhibitors in co-culture assays. Altogether, our results from orthogonal omics approaches identify proteasome inhibition as potentially attractive treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients resistant or refractory to ibrutinib.