2. Academic Validation
  3. CXCR4-targeted theranostics in acute leukemia: disrupting leukemic cell-microenvironment interactions with pentixafor and pentixather

CXCR4-targeted theranostics in acute leukemia: disrupting leukemic cell-microenvironment interactions with pentixafor and pentixather

  • Med Oncol. 2025 Aug 4;42(9):402. doi: 10.1007/s12032-025-02924-w.
Sana Rahimian # 1,  Hossein Najafi # 2,  Mohammad Doroudian # 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
  • 2 Department of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
  • 3 Department of Cell and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. mdoroudi@tcd.ie.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 40754635 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-025-02924-w
Abstract

The CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling axis governs leukemic stem cell dynamics within the bone marrow niche, driving migration, survival, and therapy resistance. This review examines a CXCR4-directed theranostic strategy for acute leukemia using Pentixafor and Pentixather. Pentixafor enables non-invasive visualization of CXCR4 expression, while Pentixather delivers targeted radiotherapy to CXCR4-expressing leukemic cells. We analyze how disrupting CXCR4-mediated leukemic cell-niche interactions enhances treatment efficacy and improves clinical outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). By integrating imaging and therapy, this approach offers a novel strategy to overcome microenvironment-mediated chemoresistance in hematologic malignancies. It advances personalized medicine by stratifying patients for CXCR4-targeted therapy and preserves functional hematopoietic niches, ultimately improving patient care.

Keywords

Acute leukemia; Bone marrow niche; CXCR4; Pentixafor; Pentixather; Theranostics.

Figures
Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-P11451
    Radiolabeled Peptide