Background: The oncogenic potential of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R) has been well described, while its relevance for human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is still undetermined. In a recent clinical trial for AML, sunitinib was found to hold potential therapeutic benefit, however, the mechanism for this remains unknown.
Materials and methods: In this study, we treated three myeloid cell lines, Mono-Mac 1, THP-1, and U937, with sunitinib, and a small-molecule CSF-1R inhibitor (cFMS-I) to test the anticancer effect of such treatment.
Results: Mono-Mac 1 cells had inhibited proliferation and extracellular-signal regulated kinase activity as a result of CSF-1R inhibition and a dose-dependent increase in CSF-1R expression with both sunitinib and cFMS-I.
Conclusion: Our results suggest potential for CSF-1R as an important target of sunitinib or other similar drugs. Future study of CSF-1R may produce more targeted therapeutic approaches and aid in the development of personalized medicine for AML.