Inhibition of DNA damage response pathway using combination of DDR pathway inhibitors and radiation in treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Abstract

An alarming increase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases among children and adults has attracted the attention of researchers to discover new therapeutic strategies with a better prognosis. In cancer cells, the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway elements have been recognized to protect tumor cells from various stresses and cause tumor progression; targeting these DDR members is an attractive strategy for treatment of cancers. The inhibition of the DDR pathway in cancer cells for the treatment of cancers has recently been introduced. Hence, effective treatment strategies are needed for this purpose. Chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy is considered a potential therapeutic strategy for acute leukemia. This review aims to assess the synergistic effects of these inhibitors with irradiation for the treatment of leukemia.

Keywords: DNA damage; DNA damage response; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; radiation; response pathway inhibitors.