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Novel Therapies Targeting the Apoptosis Pathway for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

  • Acute Leukemia
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Defects in the core regulators of the apoptosis pathway contribute to chemoresistance and poor outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To overcome these defects, novel molecules that target key proteins in the mitochondrial, death receptor, and convergence pathways of caspase activation are being developed. This review will highlight selected molecules including Bcl-2 and XIAP inhibitors that are advanced stages of development and have entered clinical trial for AML. In addition, this review will discuss how these novel therapies are being used as chemical probes to better understand the biology of the apoptosis pathway.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Ontario Cancer Research Network through funding provided by the Province of Ontario, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A.D.S. is the recipient of a CIHR Clinician Scientist Award.

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  1. Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, 610 University Ave, M5G 2M9, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Aaron D. Schimmer MD, PhD

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Correspondence to Aaron D. Schimmer MD, PhD.

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Schimmer, A.D. Novel Therapies Targeting the Apoptosis Pathway for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 8, 277–286 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-007-0037-x

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