Project 1: Genomics of intermediate-risk AML progression and relapse. The long-term goal of this project is to better understand the genetic and epigenetic events that contribute to the progression and relapse of patients with intermediate-risk AML, and exploit them therapeutically. Intermediate-risk AML (which is most commonly initiated by DNMT3A mutations) can have vastly different outcomes, for reasons that are still not well understood. In this proposal, we will explore the genetic and epigenetic factors that influence how a pre-leukemic, ancestral clone progresses to AML (i.e. ?progression?), and then evolves to recur after a remission (i.e. ?relapse?). Virtually all AML samples are clonally heterogeneous at presentation, generally containing one or more subclones derived from a founding clone (or other subclones). Subclones often display different susceptibilities to therapies, and therapy-resistant subclones often evolve with new mutations that are not recognized as drivers at relapse. To determine whether epigenetic factors may also be relevant for subclonal evolution, we have performed pilot studies using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA- seq), and defined transcriptional evolution at relapse, and detected relapse-specific, differentially expressed genes that were not detectable by bulk RNA-sequencing. In this proposal, we will exploit single cell methods to better understand subclonal evolution at relapse, and evaluate the role of DNMT3A mutations for patterns of gene expression at presentation and relapse. We will also determine whether initiating mutations in DNMT3A are required only for creating the preleukemic ?state?, or whether they are also relevant for maintaining fully transformed AML cells. The studies of both aims may improve risk assessment and therapeutics for AML:
Specific Aim 1 : We will define the events that contribute to clonal evolution and relapse in intermediate-risk AML patients. We will perform enhanced whole genome sequencing (eWGS) and scRNA- seq on matched presentation and relapse samples from intermediate-risk AML samples, which will allow us to impute the expression signatures of subclones, how they progress at relapse, and identify genes and/or pathways that are commonly dysregulated in dominant relapse subclones.
Specific Aim 2 : We will define the role of DNMT3A mutations for AML initiation and maintenance. We have generated Dnmt3a deficient mice with an inducible WT DNMT3A transgene (?Dnmt3a null-3A addback? mice) that can accurately remethylate the genomes of transplanted bone marrow cells. We will generate similar addback mice with a conditional Dnmt3aR878H mutation, define their DNA methylation phenotype, and characterize their remethylation kinetics and accuracy with DNMT3A restoration. We will create a variety of cooperating mutations in both models to cause AML, and then determine whether these AMLs can have their growth and/or differentiation altered by restoring DNMT3A expression. These studies will inform preclinical trials that will study the effects of drugs designed to target the DNMT3AR882H mutation in human AML cells.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a devastating cancer of blood forming cells that usually relapses after initial therapy, often resulting in the death of the patient. The molecular events that contribute to therapy resistance and relapse are not yet well defined. We will use state-of-the-art genomic techniques and a novel mouse model of AML to better define the events that contribute to relapse, and attempt to exploit the results to improve our ability to predict relapse, and treat it.
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