New mechanism of action in blood cancer proven

Development of blood cancer influenced by hitherto unknown mechanism of action
Blood cancer can occur in a variety of forms, with the so-called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) among the most common blood cancers in adulthood. Scientists from the Universities of Gießen and Ulm have investigated the development of this blood cancer disease in a recent study and discovered a new mechanism of action that could trigger uncontrolled cell growth.

The research team headed by Professor Tilman Borggrefe from the Institute of Biochemistry at the Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) has gained new insights into the development of a special variant of AML in his latest study, according to the JLU. Together with scientists from the University of Ulm, the researchers were able to identify a hitherto unknown mechanism of action, which apparently has a significant influence on the development of blood cancer. The study results were published in the journal "Leukemia".

Scientists have discovered a new mechanism of action that appears to be instrumental in the development of a particular form of blood cancer. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

Disruption of blood formation and damage to the organs
Blood cancers in the form of AML express themselves "among other things by weakness states, anemia or susceptibility to infections", explain the expert. The trigger is the degeneration of a group of blood-forming ("myeloid") cells. These divide unrestrained and produce almost exclusively so-called blast cells, according to the JLU. The blast cells not only disrupt the normal blood formation in the bone marrow, but will also damage various organs directly.

Special protein with a key role
According to the scientists, the "cancer protein" AML1-ETO plays a key role in a specific type of AML as it alters cancer cell gene expression. In their current study, the researchers were able to prove that this protein also fulfills another previously unknown function. AML1-ETO also influences the expression of genes that are normally regulated by the so-called Notch protein, reports the JLU. The Notch protein plays an important role in both cell division and cell differentiation.

Decisive influence on carcinogenesis
In their experiments, the scientists reported "discovered a new mechanism of action of the aggressive variant of the AML1-ETO cancer protein (AE9a)." They found that the protein - as well as the Notch protein itself - activates the expression of Notch target genes. In a modified form of the cancer protein, which did not cause deregulation of the Notch target genes more, but no more cancer-causing. "Therefore, this newly discovered mechanism of action seems to be an essential step in the development of leukemia," emphasizes Professor Borggrefe.

Hope for improved therapies
The scientists were also able to show that "the aggressive variant of the AML1-ETO cancer protein is also found in AML patients and can be identified by a characteristic gene expression profile," reports the JLU. In the opinion of the scientists, these research results could contribute in the future to an improvement in blood cancer therapy. (Fp)