The Biology, Prognostic Relevance, and Targeted Treatment of Ras Pathway-Positive Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Irving, JAE

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803505-4.00004-7

The Biology, Prognostic Relevance, and Targeted Treatment of Ras Pathway-Positive Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Julie Irving

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Abstract

© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), de-regulation of the Ras/RAF/MEK/Erk pathway is common during leukemogenesis and in the emergence of drug-resistant clones at relapse. The affected genes and mechanism of pathways activation are diverse and include point mutation, gene deletions, and chromosomal translocation of an array of gene types. Ras pathway mutations may serve as prognostic biomarkers to enhance current risk stratification strategies. Therapeutic targeting of the pathway with agents such as MEK inhibitors may provide the new drugs necessary to improve outcome for relapsed ALL and possibly those children at high risk of relapse.