11 Jan 2019 Research

Leukaemia: Investigating stem cells to prevent cancer

What is this research looking at?

The development of effective treatments to prevent and eradicate leukaemia requires a better understanding of the mechanisms behind malignant (harmful) transformation and disease persistence during therapy.

Importantly, leukaemia development is associated with the acquisition of abnormal metabolic features, making cancer metabolism an attractive target for new therapeutic strategies.

Metabolism is closely associated to cell functions in normal and abnormal (malignant) tissues. By measuring metabolic heterogeneity in normal tissue (haemopoietic stem cells) and in cancer (leukaemia), I will determine whether distinct cell metabolic states are functionally connected to their potential for malignant transformation and therapy resistance.

I will test if malignant transformation and therapy resistance can be prevented or attenuated by targeting their metabolic dependencies. Results from the proposed research may lead to the development of new strategies for leukaemia eradication and prevention.

What could this mean for people with leukaemia?

This project investigates the metabolic features of stem cells in a bid to find out how to prevent them turning cancerous and to reduce resistance to treatment – this may lead to the development of new strategies for leukaemia eradication and prevention.

Related posts

MP opens Leukaemia UK Ambulatory Care Unit

15 June 2018

MP opens Leukaemia UK Ambulatory Care Unit

A unit funded by Leukaemia UK which allows people with blood cancer to have stem cell transplants as out-patients has been officially opened by its first patient, Nick Boles MP

Leukaemia UK announces four pioneering projects into one of the deadliest forms of cancer

17 October 2023

Leukaemia UK announces four pioneering projects into one of the deadliest forms of cancer

Applications for the 2024 John Goldman Fellowships will open on 01 December 2023. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 31 January 2024. Find out more and apply.   Leukaemia UK…

Prestigious jointly-funded fellowship could be catalyst for myeloma prevention

21 June 2023

Prestigious jointly-funded fellowship could be catalyst for myeloma prevention

Dr Louise Ainley, University College London, has been awarded a Clinical Research Training Fellowship – jointly funded with the Medical Research Council. The three-year project is set to investigate which…

Leukaemia UK announces John Goldman Fellows for 2022

8 November 2022

Leukaemia UK announces John Goldman Fellows for 2022

Leukaemia UK has awarded their prestigious John Goldman Fellow research grants to four outstanding early-career researchers seeking to advance our understanding of and ability to treat blood cancer. Leukaemia UK…