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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia
Published on: September 18, 2013
Novel therapeutics for chemotherapy-resistant acute myeloid leukaemia
A E Frankel1, M W Schuster, J G Jurcic
1Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA.
Abstract:
Patients with chemotherapy-resistant acute myeloid leukaemia are rarely cured by non-allogeneic transplant therapies. Multiple new investigational agents have become available for treatment of these patients and there are few tools to permit rational drug and clinical trial selection. In this review, we describe the chemical and biological properties of some of these agents and some of their initial clinical activity to date. The selected agents react with either cell surface molecules or signal pathway intermediates and include antibody and antibody conjugates to CD33 and CD45, a fusion protein directed to the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor, an anti-sense oligonucleotide to Bcl2, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, and a protein kinase C agonist/inhibitor. The challenge for the next decade will be how to select patients for particular molecularly targeted therapeutics and how to combine these agents.
Insights
New targeted therapies show promise for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients resistant to chemotherapy. This review details agents targeting cell surface molecules and signaling pathways, aiding rational treatment selection.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chemotherapy-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presents a significant clinical challenge with limited curative options.
- Non-allogeneic transplant therapies offer infrequent cures for refractory AML.
- A need exists for tools to guide rational selection of novel agents and clinical trials for AML.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the properties and initial clinical activity of emerging investigational agents for chemotherapy-resistant AML.
- To provide an overview of targeted therapeutics acting on cell surface molecules or signal pathway intermediates.
- To inform drug and clinical trial selection for patients with refractory AML.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of investigational agents for AML.
- Description of chemical and biological properties of selected agents.
- Summary of initial clinical activity data for these agents.
Main Results:
- Several novel agents targeting CD33, CD45, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor, Bcl2, farnesyl transferase, and protein kinase C are under investigation.
- These agents exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, including antibody conjugates, fusion proteins, oligonucleotides, and enzyme inhibitors/agonists.
- Initial clinical data highlight the potential of these targeted therapies in refractory AML.
Conclusions:
- The development of molecularly targeted therapeutics offers new hope for patients with chemotherapy-resistant AML.
- Selecting appropriate patients for specific targeted therapies and optimizing combination strategies are critical challenges for the future.
- Further research is needed to refine patient selection and combination regimens for these novel AML treatments.
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