CLL-1: An emerging target for immunotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia

AML is an aggressive haematological malignancy characterised by uncontrolled proliferation and differentiation arrest of myeloid progenitor/stem cells. Conventional treatment methods principally entail chemotherapy and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, the efficacy of these treatments is constrained by the occurrence of relapses and treatment-related toxicity. In recent years, research into molecular mechanisms has driven the development of targeted therapies against specific gene mutations and advanced multiple immunotherapy strategies. Among these, C-type lectin-like molecule 1 (CLL-1) has emerged as a promising new immunotherapy target due to its specific expression in AML blast cells and leukemia stem cells. CLL-1-targeted therapies have been shown to have the potential to alleviate drug resistance, reduce non-specific toxicity, and address issues of immune escape. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest research advances in CLL-1-targeted therapies for AML, with the aim of providing novel insights and directions for clinical treatment.