Malignant myeloid cells

Malignant myeloid cells are a population of abnormal, cancerous cells derived from the myeloid lineage of the hematopoietic system, characterized by a block in differentiation and uncontrolled clonal expansion [1]. These cells are the hallmark of various hematologic malignancies, including Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) [2]. While the term refers to a cell population rather than a single molecular target, these cells express specific proteins that serve as therapeutic vulnerabilities, such as the FLT3 receptor, BCL-2, and CD33 [3]. Drugs targeting these cells range from traditional cytotoxic agents like cytarabine to targeted inhibitors like venetoclax and midostaurin [4]. The primary therapeutic goal is to eradicate these malignant clones while sparing healthy hematopoietic stem cells, though this is often complicated by the high degree of clonal heterogeneity and the emergence of resistant sub-clones [5]. Consequently, treatment often involves multi-agent regimens designed to address multiple pathways of survival and proliferation within the malignant population [6].

Other names

Leukemic myeloid cellsCancerous myeloid cellsMyeloid blast cellsAML cells

Drugs targeting these cells act through various mechanisms, including the inhibition of DNA polymerase and incorporation into DNA (Cytarabine), inhibition of the BCL-2 anti-apoptotic protein (Venetoclax), inhibition of oncogenic tyrosine kinases such as FLT3 (Midostaurin) or BCR-ABL (Imatinib), and targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents via CD33-directed antibody-drug conjugates (Gemtuzumab ozogamicin) [3, 4].