hematology and oncology
Systemic Cancer Therapy
Differentiating Drugs
These drugs induce differentiation of cancer cells. All-trans-retinoic acid and arsenic are capable of curing acute promyelocytic leukemia. Other drugs in this class include hypo-methylating drugs, such asazacitidineanddecitabine, and drugs with target mutations that block differentiation. Examples includeenasidenibandivosidenib, which counteract mutations inIDH2andIDH1. Another approach usesvenetoclax, which reverses a differentiation block caused byBCL2. Differentiating drugs are ineffective in most cancers. 