J Appl Biomed 22:165-184, 2024 | DOI: 10.32725/jab.2024.024

The role of chemokines and interleukins in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a systematic review

Martin Štajer^{1, 2}, Jan M. Horáček^{1, 2, *}, Tomáš Kupsa^{1, 2}, Pavel Žák²

¹ University of Defence, Military Faculty of Medicine, Department of Military Internal Medicine and Military Hygiene, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

² University Hospital Hradec Králové and Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Department of Internal Medicine IV - Hematology, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood hematological malignancy, but it also affects adult patients with worse prognosis and outcomes. Leukemic cells benefit from protective mechanisms, which are mediated by intercellular signaling molecules - cytokines. Through these signals, cytokines modulate the biology of leukemic cells and their surroundings, enhancing the proliferation, survival, and chemoresistance of the disease. This ultimately leads to disease progression, refractoriness, and relapse, decreasing the chances of curability and overall survival of the patients. Targeting and modulating these pathological processes without affecting the healthy physiology is desirable, offering more possibilities for the treatment of ALL patients, which still remains unsatisfactory in certain cases. In this review, we comprehensively analyze the existing literature and ongoing trials regarding the role of chemokines and interleukins in the biology of ALL. Focusing on the functional pathways, genetic background, and critical checkpoints, we constructed a summary of molecules that are promising for prognostic stratification and mainly therapeutic use. Targeted therapy, including chemokine and interleukin pathways, is a new and promising approach to the treatment of cancer. With the expansion of our knowledge, we are able to uncover a spectrum of new potential checkpoints in order to modulate the disease biology. Several cytokine-related targets are advancing toward clinical application, offering the hope of higher disease response rates to treatment.

Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Chemokine; Cytokine; Interleukin; Prognostic marker; Targeted therapy

Grants and funding:

The work was supported by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, "Long Term Organization Development Plan 1011" - Clinical Disciplines II of the Military Faculty of Medicine Hradec Králové, University of Defence, Czech Republic (Project No: DZRO-FVZ22-KLINIKA II).

Conflicts of interest:

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Received: August 10, 2024; Revised: October 16, 2024; Accepted: November 15, 2024; Prepublished online: December 4, 2024; Published: December 18, 2024  Show citation