Fms-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 messenger RNA (FLT3 mRNA)

Fms-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) messenger RNA is the transcript that encodes the FLT3 protein, a Class III receptor tyrosine kinase essential for the survival and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (NCBI Gene: 2322). In hematologic malignancies, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the FLT3 mRNA often harbors mutations such as internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) or point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD), which lead to the production of a constitutively active protein that drives leukemogenesis (Smith et al., Nature, 2012). While most current clinical strategies utilize small-molecule inhibitors to target the FLT3 protein, the mRNA itself is an emerging therapeutic target for RNA-based modalities (Heidenreich et al., Blood, 2003). These approaches, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), are designed to specifically bind to the FLT3 mRNA sequence to induce its degradation or inhibit its translation. By targeting the mRNA, especially the mutant-specific sequences of FLT3-ITD, researchers aim to achieve high specificity and overcome resistance mechanisms that often limit the efficacy of traditional tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Consequently, FLT3 mRNA represents a critical node for precision medicine in treating aggressive forms of leukemia.

Other names

CD135 mRNAFLK2 mRNASTK1 mRNAFms-like tyrosine kinase 3 messenger RNA

RNA interference (RNAi) and antisense-mediated mRNA degradation