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Dual targeting of G9a and DNMTs induces antitumor effects in multiple myeloma
Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Cancer precision medicine.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1274-4010
Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Cancer precision medicine.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6941-5843
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Cancer precision medicine. Uppsala University, Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLab.ORCID iD: 0009-0005-0913-9492
Karolinska Inst, Dept Med, Stockholm, Sweden..
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2025 (English)In: Blood Advances, ISSN 2473-9529, E-ISSN 2473-9537, Vol. 9, no 19, p. 4825-4841Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological disease of the plasma cell that remains clinically challenging despite the development of novel therapies. Epigenetic alterations have been demonstrated to contribute to MM pathogenesis, yet comprehensive studies into the links between different epigenetic regulatory systems in myeloma progression and drug resistance, though clinically relevant, are largely lacking. G9a and the DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are epigenetic modifiers that exhibit increased activity in MM, correlating with poor prognosis. To investigate the partnership between G9a and DNMTs, we used a combinatorial treatment approach involving small-molecule inhibitors. In-depth molecular analysis of the histone H3 lysine dimethylation distribution, the DNA methylome and the transcriptome of MM revealed a silencing mechanism involving G9a and DNMTs that represses key tumor suppressor genes. Moreover, dual inhibition of G9a and DNMTs reduced cell viability in primary MM cells and induced apoptosis in MM cell lines. This was accompanied by increased expression of apoptosis-related genes and decreased protein levels of the MM-associated oncoproteins IRF4, XBP1, and MYC. To assess the translational relevance of our in vitro findings, we evaluated the combination therapy in an in vivo preclinical xenograft MM model. Specifically, we demonstrate that the G9a inhibitor A366 synergizes with the DNMTs inhibitor decitabine to promote a robust tumor regression in vivo. Together, these data provide new insights into the cooperative role of G9a and the DNMTs in regulating gene silencing in MM, and support dual epigenetic inhibition as a promising therapeutic strategy.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Society of Hematology, 2025. Vol. 9, no 19, p. 4825-4841
National Category
Cancer and Oncology Cell and Molecular Biology Hematology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-571265DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023010571ISI: 001603922600002PubMedID: 40674720Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105017314083OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-571265DiVA, id: diva2:2013258
Part of project
SNIC 2.0: Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing, Swedish Research CouncilTargeting mechanisms for epigenetic gene silencing guarding proliferation and survival in multiple myeloma and infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia - Implications for biology and therapy, Swedish Research Council
Funder
Swedish Cancer Society, 20 0674 ReVS 07HSwedish Cancer Society, 0727 PjVSFSwedish Research Council, 2023-01852
Note

De två första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet

Available from: 2025-11-12 Created: 2025-11-12 Last updated: 2026-03-27Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Epigenetic signatures pave the way to precision medicine in haematological malignancies
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Epigenetic signatures pave the way to precision medicine in haematological malignancies
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Haematological malignancies remain clinically challenging due to the incomplete understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression and therapeutic resistance. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous malignancy characterised by the clonal expansion of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow. Although recurrent genetic alterations contribute to disease development, genetic lesions alone are insufficient to establish malignancy. Instead, epigenetic reprogramming plays a central role in shaping the transcriptional landscape that sustains tumour growth and survival. 

In paper I we explored the impact of combined G9a and DNMTs inhibition in MM. Dual targeting exerted synergistic anti-tumour effects, reprogramming gene expression toward tumour suppression and increased apoptosis. Moreover, in vivo combination treatment significantly reduced tumour burden compared with single agents. Together, these results uncovered a cooperative epigenetic axis driving MM progression and highlight novel therapeutic vulnerability. In paper II we investigated whether overexpressed lncRNAs cooperate with PRC2 to mediate gene silencing in MM. By integrating RIP-seq and RNA-seq analyses, we identified PVT1 as a key lncRNA interacting with EZH2. Genome-wide analyses revealed that PVT1 guides PRC2 silenced tumour suppressor and pro-apoptotic genes. Disruption of either EZH2 or PVT1 restored transcription of tumour suppressor genes, defining a PVT1-PRC2 regulatory axis that contributes to MM pathogenesis.  In paper III we further explored lncRNA-mediated PRC2 recruitment by characterizing the role of PCAT1 in MM. We demonstrated a direct interaction between PCAT1 and PRC2 and showed that PCAT1 overexpression correlates with poor overall survival and advanced disease stage. Integrative transcriptomic analyses revealed that the PCAT1-PRC2 axis regulates gene programs linked to MM pathogenesis and identified SLC44A2 and PIK3CD as novel candidate tumour suppressor targets, supporting a broader role for lncRNAs-driven epigenetic remodelling. 

Infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (iALL) is an aggressive haematological malignancy that arises in children below one year of age and is characterised by extremely poor clinical outcome. In Paper IV, we used scRNA-seq to characterise disease heterogeneity in iALL. We found that KMT2A status defined distinct transcriptional states within shared cellular compartments. KMT2A-rearranged iALL was enriched for immature, highly proliferative, and immune-evasive programs. In contrast, KMT2A-germline cases showed more differentiated lymphoid states and increased immune activation. These differences reflect transcriptional reprogramming rather than distinct cell types. Together, this highlights subtype-specific biology with potential therapeutic implications.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2026. p. 71
Series
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine, ISSN 1651-6206 ; 2258
Keywords
multiple myeloma, infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, G9a, DNMTs, PVT1, PCAT1
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences Basic Cancer Research Medical Epigenetics and Epigenomics Medical Genetics and Genomics
Research subject
Medical Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-583279 (URN)978-91-513-2798-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2026-05-22, Rudbecksalen, Rudbecklaboratoriet, Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 20, Uppsala, 09:15 (English)
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Supervisors
Available from: 2026-04-29 Created: 2026-03-27 Last updated: 2026-04-29

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Nylund, PatrickGarrido-Zabala, BertaTziola, Stefania IlianaBerglund, HannaAtienza Párraga, AlbaÖberg, FredrikKarlsson, TorbjörnNestor, MarikaKalushkova, AntoniaJernberg Wiklund, Helena

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Nylund, PatrickGarrido-Zabala, BertaTziola, Stefania IlianaBerglund, HannaAtienza Párraga, AlbaÖberg, FredrikKarlsson, TorbjörnNestor, MarikaKalushkova, AntoniaJernberg Wiklund, Helena
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