Chronic Myeloid Lukemia
Mason Warren & Kyle Thompson
The Basics
Signaling Pathway Involved
If this pathway has been erroneously activated by the imatinib, various types of cancer can arise. Wnt signaling also plays an important role in triggering a blast crisis in CML.
The interferon signaling pathway, particularly the function of the interferon regulatory factor 8 (Irf8).
Irf8 protects against infection and regulates the production of a specific type of white blood cells, the granulocytes. Irf8 counteracts the BCR-ABL oncoprotein and may suppress the development of cancer.
Mechanisms
The Incorrect Pathway: imatinib, an inhibitor of BCR-ABL
Graphic of Pathway
Direction of Research
"The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors into clinical practice has far exceeded expectations and resurrected hope that the fundamental insights from the "war on cancer" can lead to significant therapeutic advances." -- http://goo.gl/H08AFE
"Because researchers now know the main cause of CML (the BCR-ABL gene and its protein), they have been able to develop many new drugs that might work against it." -- http://goo.gl/WVVx62