Interleukin-3 Receptor α Subunit and the Targeting Therapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

At present,available chemotherapy has probably reached the limits of its potential in treating acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Future exploration in the treating of AML will be more focused on targeting therapy.Monoclonal antibody therapy has received significant remission rate in relapsed AML.Among a growing number of abnormal molecular description,interleukin-3 receptor(IL-3R)αis calling for much attention.IL-3R is one of the hematopoietic growth factor receptor family members,and its α subunit,CD123,is a specific marker of leukemic stem cells(Leukemic stem cell,LSC),playing an important role in the development of leukemia and in the proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis of the leukemic cells.Numerous studies showed that most of acute myeloid leukemia highly express IL-3Rα.Phase I clinical study in therapy targeting IL-3Rα has already received some efficacy.