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Review
. 2020 Dec 15;60(4):146-158.
doi: 10.3960/jslrt.20036. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the development of novel therapeutic strategies

Yoshikane Kikushige  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the development of novel therapeutic strategies

Yoshikane Kikushige. J Clin Exp Hematop. .

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia in Western countries and is characterized by the clonal expansion of mature CD5+ B cells. There have been substantial advances in the field of CLL research in the last decade, including the identification of recurrent mutations, and clarification of clonal architectures, signaling molecules, and the multistep leukemogenic process, providing a comprehensive understanding of CLL pathogenesis. Furthermore, the development of therapeutic approaches, especially that of molecular target therapies against CLL, has markedly improved the standard of care for CLL. This review focuses on the recent insights made in CLL leukemogenesis and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: BCR signaling; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; multistep leukemogenesis; novel drugs.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The author has no conflicts of interest related to this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Summary of the pathways and molecules involved in CLL pathogenesis. These deregulated biological pathways are affected by genetic and non-genetic mechanisms, and coordinately drive CLL leukemogenesis.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Summary of novel drugs and their target molecules and pathways.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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MeSH terms