Resistance in the land of molecular cancer therapeutics.
The fusion tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib, a potent inhibitor of Bcr-Abl, has shown impressive clinical activity in CML patients. However, primary and acquired resistance occurs in many patients and is associated with reactivation of Bcr-Abl in primary leukemia cells. Studies reported over the past year have begun to elucidate the molecular basis of imatinib resistance, which may involve amplification of BCR-ABL or, more commonly, mutations that introduce amino acid substitutions into the Bcr-Abl kinase. Biochemical analysis and molecular modeling indicate that these mutant proteins retain kinase activity but are less sensitive to inhibition due to structural changes that perturb drug binding. These studies establish a paradigm for elucidating resistance to targeted therapeutics.
Department of Pediatrics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA. kevins@itsa.ucsf.edu
Kevin M
KM
Shannon
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009154:Mutation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl