Abstract: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are heterogeneous malignancies arising from the multistep transformation of bone marrow immature cells. The inventors showed that RAS pathway mutations were detected in 40% of FLT3- and NPM1-unmutated AML cases and correlated with higher white blood cell count, blast cell percentage and reduced survival after intensive therapy. Building on genetic models of RAS activation, they highlighted the leukemogenic potential of RAS pathway alterations, and the efficacy and limitations of MEK inhibitors in this context. From high-content chemical screens, the inventors unraveled pyrvinium pamoate—an anthelminthic drug approved in human patients—as displaying a preferential cytotoxicity against RAS activated cells. This potential clinical candidate demonstrated a robust synergistic activity with the MEK inhibitor trametinib, including in primary samples from AML patients.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for predicting the responsiveness of an individual suffering from leukemia to a chemotherapeutic drug. In particular, this method comprises determining the proportion of leukemic cells expressing cytoplasmic PCNA in a biological sample of the individual. The present invention also relates to a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for use for the treatment of an individual suffering from leukemia and having a proportion of leukemic cells expressing cytoplasmic PCNA in a biological sample lower than a predetermined threshold. The invention also pertains to a method for diagnosing whether an individual suffers, or is at risk of suffering, from leukemia.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods for treating and/or preventing aberrant proliferation of hematopoietic cells. More particularly, the invention relates to methods for treating and/or preventing aberrant proliferation of hematopoietic cells comprising selectively inhibiting phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3K?) activity in hematopoietic cells. The methods may be used to treat any indication involving aberrant proliferation of hematopoietic cells.