Current Status of Molecularly Targeted Therapeutics in Blood Cancers

Blood cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of blood cells in the bone marrow or in the lymphatic system. Chemotherapy is still considered the first line of treatment in several types of blood cancer despite its adverse effects. Recent advances in understanding the pathology and genomic changes in these cancers have led to the discovery of novel drug targets and the development of new therapeutic agents. In this review, we will discuss the mechanisms of action and clinical utility of several classes of targeted therapy used in blood cancers, including inhibitors of different types of tyrosine kinase enzymes (BCR-ABL, FLT3 and BTK), BCL-2 inhibitors, phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors, nuclear export inhibitors, immune therapies (monoclonal antibodies, radioimmunoconjugates, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and bispecific antibodies), and proteasome-dependent drugs (proteasome inhibitors and proteolysis targeting chimeras). Further advances in identifying distinct molecular subgroups in blood cancers will offer more opportunities for novel targeted therapies and more personalized medicine approaches.