The development of cell death-inducing agents – a breakthrough in the treatment of leukemia

Scientists at the Frankfurt Foundation for Children with Cancer, together with international colleagues, have published a groundbreaking review article in the renowned journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.

The focus is on the BCL2 protein family, which determines whether cancer cells survive or die. Venetoclax is the first drug available that specifically targets BCL2 and has proven successful in the treatment of leukemia – with significantly better tolerability than conventional therapies. In addition, new approaches such as PROTAC molecules, antibody-drug conjugates, and combination therapies are opening up further opportunities in the fight against cancer.

These developments offer a glimmer of hope, particularly for pediatric oncology: they enable individually tailored treatments with fewer side effects and open up new options for children whose tumors were previously difficult to treat. Research is thus making a decisive contribution to precision medicine, which addresses the genetic characteristics of a tumor and sustainably improves the chances of recovery.

This review article illustrates how decades of basic research can lead to concrete therapies – supported by international cooperation. For affected families, this means new hope: better prognoses, gentler treatments, and a better quality of life.

The Frankfurt Foundation for Children with Cancer will remain at the forefront of this research in the future and is working tirelessly to further improve treatment options for children with cancer.

Original publication an Illustration: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40113751/