Specific Targeting of Hematopoietic Malignancies by Using Novel Small Molecule Compounds

Hematopoietic malignancies are extremely challenging to treat due to their highly metastatic nature which allows them to spread throughout the human body. Therefore, hematopoietic cancers remain associated with high mortality rates in patients even with new treatment options. Current treatments for hematopoietic malignancies still mainly rely on chemo- and radiotherapies which are non-specific and accompanied by severe side effects. New immune-based and biological therapies have recently emerged in the clinic, however a large proportion of patients demonstrate primary and acquired resistance to these new treatments, or suffer from severe auto-immune side effects. Cancer cells depend on actin cytoskeleton rearrangement in order to carry out hallmark malignant cellular functions including cellular activation, proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. In this study we performed in silico screening in order to find novel small molecule compounds (SMCs) that would downregulate cytoskeletal rearrangement in malignant hematopoietic cells. This protein-specific approach results in the inhibition of actin-dependent processes which regulate the cellular functions of hematopoietic malignant cells without affecting healthy hematopoietic or non-hematopoietic cells. This novel therapeutic approach might serve as an effective strategy to treat hematopoietic malignancies in a safe and specific manner.