“Leuk”ing for a Cure — Dr. Ulrich G. Steidl had received an award of $1.8 million from The National Cancer Institute to study the role of a specific gene, HLX, in causing acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a cancer of white blood cells characterized by abnormal, rapid growth that interferes with the cells’ normal functions. The HLX gene encodes a protein that activates other genes (transcription factor); Dr. Steidl previously found that excessive amounts of HLX is associated with AML in both mouse models and in human patients. With this funding, he will study the mechanisms by which high amounts of HLX initiate AML; the genes that HLX targets for activation, which may work in concert to cause disease; and how HLX might be manipulated to identify possible therapeutic approaches. Dr. Steidl is assistant professor of cell biology and of medicine and is the Diane and Arthur B. Belfer Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research.
Posted on: Wednesday, May 08, 2013