CDX2 — A protein that promotes leukemiaMarch 08, 2007Researchers from Harvard Medical School, Boston, have found that most individuals with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) inappropriately express a protein known as CDX2 in their leukemic cells. CDX2 regulates the expression of a number of genes that encode members of the HOX family of proteins, which might provide a new set of targets for the treatment of individuals with AML. In the study, which appears online on March 8 in advance of publication in the April print issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Stefan Fröhling and colleagues show that the gene encoding CDX2 is expressed in 90% of the patients with AML that they analyzed. Moreover, reducing the amount of CDX2 in human AML cell lines decreased their ability to proliferate, indicating that CDX2 has a causal role in the pathogenesis of AML. Further evidence of this was provided by the observation that mouse hematopoietic cells engineered to express CDX2 were induced to proliferate and were able to cause full-blown AML when transplanted into mice. Expression of CDX2 in the mouse hematopoietic cells induced altered expression of a number of genes that encode HOX family of proteins, leading the authors to conclude that aberrant expression of CDX2 drives the dysregulated HOX gene expression observed in most individuals with AML. Journal of Clinical Investigation | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Related Leukemia Current Events and Leukemia News Articles Hodgkin lymphoma -- new characteristics discovered Researchers are still discovering new characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma, a common form of cancer of the lymphatic system. The malignant cells are derived from white blood cells (B cells), but have lost a considerable part of the B cell-specific gene expression pattern. Anti-cancer drug prevents, reverses cardiovascular damage in mouse model of premature aging disorder An experimental anti-cancer drug can prevent -- and even reverse -- potentially fatal cardiovascular damage in a mouse model of progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes the most dramatic form of human premature aging, National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers reported today. New research to help dogs with cancer may benefit people A new study jointly conducted by Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute may one day help not only our canine friends with cancer, but also people with the human form of the disease. Embryonic stem cells might help reduce transplantation rejection Researchers have shown that immune-defense cells influenced by embryonic stem cell-derived cells can help prevent the rejection of hearts transplanted into mice, all without the use of immunosuppressive drugs. VCU Massey Cancer Center Spearheads Novel Clinical Study for Lymphoma Patients The Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center recently opened a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored, phase II clinical study for certain sub-types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. New insights into the regulation of PTEN tumor suppression function The PTEN tumor suppressor gene controls numerous biological processes including cell proliferation, cell growth and death. But PTEN is frequently lost or mutated; in fact, alteration of the gene is so common among various types of human cancer that PTEN has become one of the most frequently mutated of all tumor suppressors. Children's national co-leads nationwide study of landmark sickle cell treatment Children's National Medical Center immunologist and blood and marrow transplant physician Naynesh Kamani, MD, will serve as the study co-chair for a new national clinical trial of unrelated donor marrow and umbilical cord blood transplants for severe sickle cell disease. Newly discovered molecular switch helps decide cell type in early embryo development Researchers have discovered a central molecular switch in fruit fly embryos that opens new avenues for studying the causes of birth defects and cancer in humans. Writing about their study in the Aug. 12 Developmental Cell, scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center determined the switch to be a main tuning mechanism for instructing cells whether to form sensory nerves or blood cells in different parts of the body. McGill researchers overcome chemotherapy resistance in the lab Researchers from McGill University's Faculty of Medicine have discovered a compound that reduces resistance to chemotherapy agents used to treat cancer. Their results were published in the June issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). Crucial Factors in Lymphoma Development and Survival Discovered Researchers at National Jewish Medical and Research Center have discovered an important factor in the development of B-cell lymphomas, one of the fastest growing forms of cancer. More Leukemia Current Events and Leukemia News Articles |
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