(2) Roles of Molecular-Targeted Agents in Treatment of Hematological Malignancies

Abstract

Currently, many molecular-targeted agents are used for treatment of various hematological malignancies. Especially, all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) play important roles as curative therapeutic agents, leading to a shift in treatment paradigm. Although the role of molecular-targeted agents in "acute myeloid leukemia (AML) " other than acute promyelocytic leukemia is currently limited, FLT3 inhibitors show efficacy in its relapsed/refractory cases, and venetoclax is used in unfit patients, in combination with azacitidine. The combined use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and conventional cytotoxic anticancer agents improves treatment outcomes in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Also, a novel anti-CD22 antibody is currently available for treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Treatment strategy of multiple myeloma has been extensively improved by the development of molecular-targeted agents, including immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors, and anti-CD38 antibody. In B-cell lymphoma treatment, "rituximab", an anti-CD20 antibody agent, plays significant role as a single agent or in combination with cytotoxic anticancer agents. "Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors" are also currently available for this role. Continuous progress in molecular targeted therapy is requisite for further improvement in clinical outcome of hematological malignancies.