Combination of YM155, a survivin suppressant with a STAT3 inhibitor: A new strategy to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Survivin and STAT3 pathway have been reported to be important for the growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells. Here we investigated the antitumor activity of sepantronium bromide (YM155), a survivin suppressant, in combination with STAT3 inhibitors in DLBCL cell lines in vitro. YM155 synergistically enhanced STAT3 inhibitors (AG490 and STA-21)-induced apoptosis in DLBCL cell lines. Moreover, rituximab, which shows inhibitory activity against STAT3, also sensitized DLBCL cell lines to YM155 regardless of sensitivity to rituximab. These results suggest that combining the inhibition of survivin with STAT3 pathway is an attractive and potentially effective way for the treatment of DLBCL.