Targeting N-Cadherin (CDH2) and the malignant bone marrow microenvironment in acute leukaemia

Jessica Parker, Sean Hockney, Orest W. Blaschuk, Deepali Pal*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)
52 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This review discusses current research on acute paediatric leukaemia, the leukaemic bone marrow (BM) microenvironment and recently discovered therapeutic opportunities to target leukaemia–niche interactions. The tumour microenvironment plays an integral role in conferring treatment resistance to leukaemia cells, this poses as a key clinical challenge that hinders management of this disease. Here we focus on the role of the cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin (CDH2) within the malignant BM microenvironment and associated signalling pathways that may bear promise as therapeutic targets. Additionally, we discuss microenvironment-driven treatment resistance and relapse, and elaborate the role of CDH2-mediated cancer cell protection from chemotherapy. Finally, we review emerging therapeutic approaches that directly target CDH2-mediated adhesive interactions between the BM cells and leukaemia cells.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere16
Pages (from-to)1-27
Number of pages27
JournalExpert Reviews in Molecular Medicine
Volume25
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 May 2023

Keywords

  • Anti-cancer drugs
  • CDH2
  • cancer microenvironment
  • leukaemia
  • treatment resistance

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