About this Research Topic
The ontogenesis of myeloid malignancies is based on complex genetic alterations and biological mechanisms. Abnormal maturation and differentiation arrest are key pathogenetic phenomena implicated in the onset of myeloid malignancies, especially myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Therapeutic agents that are able to restore the physiological differentiation process of bone marrow myeloid precursors have been recently explored in clinical trials. Acute promyelocytic leukemia, a peculiar subtype of AML, is the paradigm of the efficacy of differentiative therapy with vitamin A derivative all-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide; these two drugs have transformed this disease with a poor outcome to one of the most prognostically favorable subsets of AML. Research in myeloid malignancies is currently moving beyond the classical cytotoxic agents and many drug categories with the potential to promote differentiation as part of their therapeutic effect have been introduced in clinical practice including fms-like kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitors, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors, epigenetic drugs, menin inhibitors, and other agents are currently being tested in clinical trials. The application of differentiative therapies has been enriched by the advent of next-generation sequencing which enabled to define of specific genetic categories of myeloid malignancies.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to enrich the current knowledge on differentiative therapy in myeloid malignancies through the definition of potential genetic biomarkers and clinical indicators of efficacy of the drugs currently approved in clinical practice. We want to expand the role of genetic and biological biomarkers in the definition of the applicability of differentiation therapies in diverse discrete categories of myeloid malignancies. Furthermore, we seek submissions to explore in pre-clinical studies potentially new mechanisms of action of well-known differentiating agents which may help in the employment of these agents in other disease categories. Finally, we seek submissions that explore clinical complications of differentiating agents to better refine the current management of these side effects.
Areas to be considered in this Research Series may include, but not limited to:
- Explore the clinical potential of differentiating agents alone or in combination in different settings of myeloid malignancies.
- Enhance knowledge on specific clinical complications of differentiating agents and management of these side effects.
- Potentiate with pre-clinical studies the knowledge on mechanisms of action of well-known differentiating agents.
- Expand the role of genetic biomarkers in evaluating discrete categories of myeloid malignancies responsive to differentiating agents.
Please note manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of the scope of this Research Topic.
The main goal of this Research Topic is to enrich the current knowledge on differentiative therapy in myeloid malignancies through the definition of potential genetic biomarkers and clinical indicators of efficacy of the drugs currently approved in clinical practice. We want to expand the role of genetic and biological biomarkers in the definition of the applicability of differentiation therapies in diverse discrete categories of myeloid malignancies. Furthermore, we seek submissions to explore in pre-clinical studies potentially new mechanisms of action of well-known differentiating agents which may help in the employment of these agents in other disease categories. Finally, we seek submissions that explore clinical complications of differentiating agents to better refine the current management of these side effects.
Areas to be considered in this Research Series may include, but not limited to:
- Explore the clinical potential of differentiating agents alone or in combination in different settings of myeloid malignancies.
- Enhance knowledge on specific clinical complications of differentiating agents and management of these side effects.
- Potentiate with pre-clinical studies the knowledge on mechanisms of action of well-known differentiating agents.
- Expand the role of genetic biomarkers in evaluating discrete categories of myeloid malignancies responsive to differentiating agents.
Please note manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases that are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of the scope of this Research Topic.
Keywords: Differentiation; myeloid malignancies; genetic biomarkers; target therapy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
