Novel Therapeutic Agents Against Cancer Stem Cells of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Title: Novel Therapeutic Agents Against Cancer Stem Cells of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Volume: 10 Issue: 2

Author(s): Yaoyu Chen, Cong Peng, Con Sullivan, Dongguang Li and Shaoguang Li

Affiliation:

Keywords: BCR-ABL, leukemic stem cells, CML, therapeutic agents

Abstract: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is induced by the BCR-ABL oncogene, a product of Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome. The BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib is a standard treatment for Ph+ leukemia, and has been shown to induce a complete hematologic and cytogenetic response in most chronic phrase CML patients. However, imatinib does not cure CML, and one of the reasons is that imatinib does not kill leukemia stem cells (LSCs) in CML both in vitro and in vivo. Recently, several new targets or drugs have been reported to inhibit LSCs in cultured human CD34+ CML cells or in mouse model of BCR-ABL induced CML, including an Alox5 pathway inhibitor, Hsp90 inhibitors, omacetaxine, hedgehog inhibitor and BMS-214662. Specific targeting of LSCs but not normal stem cell is a correct strategy for developing new anti-cancer therapies in the future.

Cite this article as:

Chen Yaoyu, Peng Cong, Sullivan Con, Li Dongguang and Li Shaoguang, Novel Therapeutic Agents Against Cancer Stem Cells of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2010; 10 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152010790909326