Gene Linked to the Unrestricted Production of Immature Blood Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Inhibition of HLX reduced proliferation and uncontrolled replication of leukemia cells, overcame the differentiation block, and led to prolonged survival.

Evaluation of samples from 354 human AML patients revealed that 87% of them overexpressed HLX compared to HLX expression in healthy individuals. Furthermore, it was found that among a cohort of 601 patients expressing high levels of HLX, the greater their degree of HLX expression, the worse their survival chances.

"We have discovered that a gene called HLX is expressed at abnormally high levels in leukemia stem cells in a mouse model of AML," said senior author Dr. Ulrich Steidl, assistant professor of cell biology and of medicine at Yeshiva University. "HLX is clearly a key factor in causing the over-production of white cells that occurs in AML. Our research is still in its early stages, but we are looking towards developing drugs…so we can improve treatment for AML and possibly other types of cancer."

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Yeshiva University