Cited by 742Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ResearchLymphoma Diagnosis and TreatmentImmunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders

Role of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase in B cells and malignancies

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Pal Singh, Simar, Dammeijer, Floris, Hendriks, Rudi W.·2018·Molecular Cancer

Abstract

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a non-receptor kinase that plays a crucial role in oncogenic signaling that is critical for proliferation and survival of leukemic cells in many B cell malignancies. BTK was initially shown to be defective in the primary immunodeficiency X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) and is essential both for B cell development and function of mature B cells. Shortly after its discovery, BTK was placed in the signal transduction pathway downstream of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR). More recently, small-molecule inhibitors of this kinase have shown excellent anti-tumor activity, first in animal models and subsequently in clinical studies. In particular, the orally administered irreversible BTK inhibitor ibrutinib is associated with high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL), including patients with high-risk genetic lesions. Because ibrutinib is generally well tolerated and shows durable single-agent efficacy, it was rapidly approved for first-line treatment of patients with CLL in 2016. To date, evidence is accumulating for efficacy of ibrutinib in various other B cell malignancies. BTK inhibition has molecular effects beyond its classic role in BCR signaling. These involve B cell-intrinsic signaling pathways central to cellular survival, proliferation or retention in supportive lymphoid niches. Moreover, BTK functions in several myeloid cell populations representing important components of the tumor microenvironment. As a result, there is currently a considerable interest in BTK inhibition as an anti-cancer therapy, not only in B cell malignancies but also in solid tumors. Efficacy of BTK inhibition as a single agent therapy is strong, but resistance may develop, fueling the development of combination therapies that improve clinical responses. In this review, we discuss the role of BTK in B cell differentiation and B cell malignancies and highlight the importance of BTK inhibition in cancer therapy.

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Crossref · 10.1186/s12943-018-0779-z

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  • BTK is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that amplifies upstream BCR signaling and is essential for B-cell development and maturation.

    “Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that amplifiesupstream B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling and is essential for B-cell development and maturation(1, 2).”

    From Resistance Mechanisms and Approach to Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia after BTK Inhibitor Therapy (2025) · cites this paper as [1]

    The Background and BTK structure sections identify BTK as a non-receptor tyrosine kinase downstream of the BCR. The Abstract states that it is essential for B-cell development and mature B-cell function, and the peripheral-development section describes impaired maturation without BTK. The paper describes BTK transmitting signals to downstream targets, but does not say it amplifies upstream BCR signaling. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • BTK became a target in CLL due to its role downstream of the B cell receptor.

    “BTK became a target of interest in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia owing to its crucial role downstream of the B cell receptor53.”

    From Advances in covalent drug discovery (2022) · cites this paper as [53]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [211]Tillman BF, Pauff JM, Satyanarayana G, Talbott M, Warner JL. Systematic review of infectious events with the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib in the treatment of haematologic malignancies. Eur J Haematol. 2017; 29285806

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Authors
Pal Singh, S., Dammeijer, F., & Hendriks, R. W.
Affiliations
Erasmus MC (NL)
Corresponding author
Hendriks, Rudi W.
Venue
Molecular Cancer
Published
2018-02-19
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
57-57
ISSN
1476-4598 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2791299132
Cited by
726
References
272
Citations by year
2026: 62 · 2025: 89 · 2024: 123 · 2023: 104 · 2022: 127 · 2021: 100 · 2020: 67 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 9
FWCI
8.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Cancer (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
ZonMw
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Lymphoma Diagnosis and Treatment
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
Keywords
Bruton's tyrosine kinase, B-cell malignancies, ibrutinib, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, B cell receptor signaling, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, B cell differentiation, BTK inhibitors, tumor microenvironment, myeloid cells, drug resistance, combination therapy, solid tumors
MeSH terms
Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase, Animals, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, B-Lymphocytes, Bone Marrow, Cell Differentiation, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Humans, Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell, Biomarkers, Tumor, Signal Transduction, Leukemia, B-Cell, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Lymphoma, B-Cell, Treatment Outcome, Lymphopoiesis, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Tumor Microenvironment

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