DNA repeats that help cause a common childhood B-cell leukemia
Repeat enhancers as drivers of ETV6-RUNX1+ and ETV6-RUNX1-like B-lymphoblastic leukemia
Researchers are looking at whether short repeated DNA sequences switch on cancer genes in children with ETV6-RUNX1 or ETV6-mutant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292876 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team will study short repeated DNA sequences called GGAA repeats to see how they act like switches that turn on leukemia-related genes when the ETV6 protein is lost. They will work with human leukemia cell lines, patient tumor samples, and human leukemia cells grown in mice to track changes in gene activity and leukemia cell fitness. The investigators will identify which genes are activated by these repeat enhancers and test whether disrupting those enhancers affects leukemia cell survival. The goal is to better understand the biology behind this common childhood B-ALL subtype and point to potential targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with ETV6-RUNX1 fusion or other ETV6-mutant B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or whose tumor samples are contributed for research, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients without ETV6-related changes or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to directly benefit from this laboratory-focused research during the grant period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new molecular targets and pathways that lead to more precise treatments for children with ETV6-altered B-ALL.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked ETS-family factors and repeat enhancers to cancer biology, but applying the GGAA repeat enhancer mechanism specifically to ETV6-altered pediatric B-ALL is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ryan, Russell James Hubbard — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Ryan, Russell James Hubbard
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.