Inhibition of c-Abl kinase with the small molecule STI571 (Gleevec, Imatinab mesylate), used clinically to treat some forms of leukemia, myelodysplasia, and gastrointestinal cancers, blocked cortical neuron apoptosis [79], thereby supporting the interpretation of c-Abl activation in human motor neurons in ALS is mechanistically relevant, and consistent with the idea that c-Abl inhibition could be relevant therapeutically in ALS [45]. Here, ABL1 is linked to leukemia.