In vitro sensitivity of T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia to UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) is dependent on p16 protein status: A pediatric oncology group study

p16 regulates the cell cycle pathway by inhibiting the cyclin Ds-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6-mediated phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Previously, we reported that most primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) harbored p16 inactivation and hyperphosphorylated pRb without cyclin Ds or CDK4/6 alterations. Therefore, inhibiting CDK4/6 may be an ideal therapeutic approach for p16 (-) T-ALL. UCN-01 (7-hydroxystaurosporine) is a potent antitumor agent that exerts its effects through the inhibition of CDKs. We now report that p16 protein expression status of T-ALL cells influences their sensitivity to UCN-01. In 36 primary T-ALL cells, the IC₅₀s of UCN-01 in the 27 p16 (-) cells (43 ± 52 nM) was significantly lower than that in the 9 p16 (+) cells (258 ± 260 nM). Our results suggest that agents like UCN-01 may be useful as a p16-selective therapy for T-ALL.