Emerging targets for hematological malignancies

Abstract

Molecularly targeted therapies have been increasingly incorporated into standard treatment regimens for the majority of hematological malignancies. To increase the efficacy of the next generation of drugs, research efforts have been aimed at identifying molecular defects specific to leukemic cells. A significant therapeutic opportunity is represented by the possibility of selectively eradicating the leukemic stem cell pool. This review focuses on new insights regarding oncogenetic mechanisms in hematological malignancies and related possible druggable targets, including the pathways leading to leukemic stem cell maintenance and the specific approaches used to eliminate them.