Is there a role for differentiating therapy in non-APL AML?

Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2010 Dec;23(4):503-8. doi: 10.1016/j.beha.2010.09.014. Epub 2010 Nov 23.

Abstract

Differentiation therapy with all-trans retinoic acid has been a very successful therapeutic strategy in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but the value of differentiation therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains to be determined. A number of current treatments, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, cytokines, and epigenetic agents, induce differentiation of leukemic cells to some extent, but differentiation is not the main goal of these treatments. Forcing expression of certain transcription factors, such as C/EBP, has also been useful in inducing differentiation in cell lines and in murine models, but an effective way to force expression of these genes in humans is yet to be discovered.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation* / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cricetinae
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic* / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* / therapy
  • Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins