Therapeutic potential of spleen tyrosine kinase inhibition for treatment of high-risk precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Intensified and central nervous system (CNS)-directed chemotherapy has significantly improved outcomes for pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), but confers significant late-effect morbidities. Moreover, many patients suffer relapses, underscoring the need to develop novel, molecularly targeted B-ALL therapies. Using a mouse model, we showed that leukemic B-cells require pre-B-cell receptor (pre-BCR)-independent spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) signaling in vivo.