Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is the most lethal hematological malignancy and is the cause of more than 10,000 deaths in the US annually. AML is typically treated by chemotherapy, though patients often relapse and have limited therapeutic options. The promyelocytic subtype of AML is successfully treated by """"""""differentiation therapy"""""""" - use of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) to induce cellular differentiation and loss of proliferation in leukemic blasts. Other AML subtypes, however, show minimal ATRA responsiveness. Recent work has suggested that this block to non-APL AML differentiation is epigenetic in nature. Stable - yet reversible - chromatin alterations are thought to render these AML cells unable to activate myeloid differentiation gene expression programs. This project aims to use RNAi screening technology to identify histone-modifying enzymes responsible for keeping AML cells in their undifferentiated state. The main focus of the proposed research will be to determine whether inhibition of candidate enzymes induces myeloid differentiation in AML cell tissue culture models and reduces disease burden in mouse AML models. A secondary focus will be to understand how, on a molecular and biochemical level, the identified enzymes are functioning to oppose myeloid differentiation. Successful identification and molecular understanding of such enzymes would directly suggest their candidacy as potential therapeutic targets for non-APL AML.

Public Health Relevance

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is the most lethal cancer of the blood, causing more than 10,000 deaths in the US annually. Patients are treated with chemotherapeutic regiments, but many relapse and have few therapeutic options. The goal of this research is to identify new potential therapeutic targets for AML by increasing the molecular understanding of AML cellular pathology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32CA180450-01
Application #
8594586
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F09B-P (20))
Program Officer
Jakowlew, Sonia B
Project Start
2013-07-15
Project End
2015-07-14
Budget Start
2013-07-15
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$52,190
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
076593722
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Greer, Eric Lieberman; Blanco, Mario Andres; Gu, Lei et al. (2015) DNA Methylation on N6-Adenine in C. elegans. Cell 161:868-78