First-in-class oral small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase ROR1 (KAN0439834) induced significant apoptosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Development of new drugs with other mechanisms of action (MOA) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) than those in clinical practice are highly warranted in spite of the recent clinical progress, especially compounds targeting tumor-specific molecules. Therapeutics interfering with signaling pathways controlling growth and survival of leukemic cells and bypass resistance to cytotoxic drugs is of special interest [ 1 ] and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in particular.