Therapeutic options against BCR-ABL1 T315I-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia

Despite the efficacy of imatinib therapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia, the development of resistance continues to challenge the treatment of this disease. Mutations within the kinase domain of BCR-ABL1 constitute the most frequent mechanism of resistance in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with imatinib or the second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors nilotinib and dasatinib. Of particular concern is the substitution of the threonine residue at the highly conserved gatekeeper residue 315 with a bulkier hydrophobic isoleucine amino acid. This mutation causes steric hindrance precluding the access ATP-competitive inhibitors to the ATP-binding pocket. To expedite the identification of strategies to override the resistance imposed by the T315I mutation, several strategies have been pursued, including the exploitation of BCR-ABL1 kinase sites distant from the ATP-binding pocket to cripple the kinase activity of the enzyme and inhibiting signaling pathways downstream from BCR-ABL1. Recent insights gained regarding the structural biology of T315I have led to the development of a variety of compounds against this mutant. We herein summarize the most clinically promising anti-T315I therapies.