Imatinib and leptomycin B are effective in overcoming imatinib-resistance due to Bcr-Abl amplification and clonal evolution but not due to Bcr-Abl kinase domain mutation.

Treatment with imatinib is very effective in Bcr-Abl positive leukemia. However, development of resistance to this drug is a common phenomenon in late stage disease. The Bcr-Abl protein localizes to the cytoplasm in transformed cells but can enter the nucleus upon treatment with imatinib.

Next-generation sequencing: the race is on.

The $1000 genome may still be years away, but with the arrival of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies that are much faster and cheaper than the traditional Sanger method, large-scale sequencing of hundreds or even thousands of human genomes is fast becoming reality.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO): the antagonist of type I interferon-driven skin inflammation?

Recent studies have provided evidence that a type I interferon (IFN)-driven immune response might play an important role in the pathogenesis of lichen planus (LP), an inflammatory disorder of the skin of unclear etiology. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in affected skin from LP have been proposed to produce IFN-alpha/beta locally, which leads to the expression of IFN-inducible chemokines such as IP10/CXCL10 in the epidermis. This chemokine recruits chemokine receptor CXCR3-expressing T-lymphocytes into the skin via CXCR3/IP10 interactions.

Superpostdocs reach for the stars.

In the US and now also in Europe, a growing number of special fellowship programs, sometimes called "superpostdocs," offer newly minted PhDs instant independence and enable them to undertake pioneering research. Job prospects for fellows are rosy, but such early independence is not for everyone.

Seeking new antibiotics in nature's backyard.

As the pipeline of new antibiotics slows to a trickle, scientists are developing innovative strategies to unearth antibacterial compounds in unexpected places.

Bcr-Abl resistance screening predicts a limited spectrum of point mutations to be associated with clinical resistance to the Abl kinase inhibitor nilotinib (AMN107).

In advanced-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), resistance to imatinib mesylate is associated with point mutations in the BCR-ABL kinase domain. A new generation of potent ABL kinase inhibitors is undergoing clinical evaluation. It is important to generate specific resistance profiles for each of these compounds, which could translate into combinatorial and sequential treatment strategies.