title: Masitinib for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative neurological disorder that is the most common cause of dementia and disability in older patients. Available treatments are symptomatic in nature and are only sufficient to improve the quality of life of AD patients temporarily. A potential strategy, currently under investigation, is to target cell-signaling pathways associated with neurodegeneration, in order to decrease neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, and to improve cognitive functions. Current review centers on the role of neuroinflammation and the specific contribution of mast cells to AD pathophysiology. The authors look at masitinib therapy and the evidence presented through preclinical and clinical trials. Dual actions of masitinib as an inhibitor of mast cell-glia axis and a Fyn kinase blocker are discussed in the context of AD pathology. Masitinib is in Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of malignant melanoma, mastocytosis, multiple myeloma, gastrointestinal cancer and pancreatic cancer. It is also in Phase II/III clinical trials for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and AD. Additional research is warranted to better investigate the potential effects of masitinib in combination with other drugs employed in AD treatment.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Bioquimica i Biotecnología, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Folch
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.forename: Miren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ettcheto
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pedrós
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beas-Zarate
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazarowski
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olloquequi
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Auladell
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Camins
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D001549:Benzamides; D006801:Humans; D010880:Piperidines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010880:Piperidines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D013844:Thiazoles; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; C526575:masitinib
keywords: Alzheimer; inflammation; masitinib; neurodegeneration; tau