AKT inhibitor capivasertib reverses EVI1‑driven resistance to venetoclax in acute myeloid leukaemia

We demonstrated that elevated EVI1 expression confers resistance to venetoclax by stabilizing MCL‑1 through activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in vitro. Mechanistically, elevated EVI1 levels were associated with increased phosphorylation of MCL-1 at threonine 163 (T163pMCL‑1), thereby stabilizing MCL-1 by attenuating its ubiquitin–proteasome mediated degradation.

Importantly, cotreatment with venetoclax and the clinically available AKT inhibitor capivasertib effectively restored sensitivity in both cell lines and patient-derived primary AML samples with high EVI1 expression. Overall, our findings reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying EVI1-mediated venetoclax resistance through PI3K/AKT-driven MCL‑1 stabilization and suggest a combination strategy involving AKT inhibition as a promising approach for overcoming therapeutic resistance in this high-risk AML subset.