Deferasirox selectively induces cell death in the clinically relevant population of leukemic CD34+CD38 − cells through iron chelation, induction of ROS and inhibition of HIF1α expression

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a clonal malignancy that is thought to be initiated at a stage as early as hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells [1]. The cure rates are less than 10% for older AML patients and median survival less than 1 year for these patients [2]. Although 70 –80% of younger patients achieve complete remission, most will eventually relapse and overall survival is only 40–50% at 5 years [3-4]. Drug resistance and relapse are major causes for treatment failure. Current treatments for AML such as nucleoside analogs (eg, cytosine arabinoside [ARA-C]) and anthracyclines [eg, idarubicin, daunorubicin]) interfere with DNA replication and induce apoptosis primarily in replicating cells [4-5].

Source: Experimental Hematology - November 8, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Saar Shapira, Pia Raanani, Aladin Samara, Arnon Nagler, Ido Lubin, Nadir Arber, Galit Granot Source Type: research