Towards targeted therapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013:792:259-91. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-8051-8_12.

Abstract

The B cell antigen receptor (BCR) and its downstream pathways are pivotal in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Recently, inhibitors of kinases in the BCR pathway have shown promising clinical activity in CLL. Based upon these results, the treatment paradigm for CLL will likely undergo major changes. The kinases essential for BCR signal transduction, which are emerging as targets for CLL treatment, and the specific inhibitors under development are the focus of this chapter. In particular, the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib and the PI3K inhibitor idelalisib (GS-1101) are two evolving targeted therapies with the most mature clinical data.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • BTK protein, human