How a common RNA chemical tag helps leukemia stem cells survive treatment
Role of an Aberrant N6-Methyladenosine-LncRNA Axis in the Development and Maintenance of Drug Resistance through Regulating the Leukemia Stem Cell
The team will try to stop an RNA chemical tag and related long RNAs from helping leukemia stem cells survive targeted leukemia drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179289 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about research that looks at a chemical mark on RNA called m6A and certain long noncoding RNAs that may let leukemia stem cells resist tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) drugs. In the lab, researchers will compare TKI-sensitive and TKI-resistant leukemia cells, map m6A patterns and lncRNA changes, and test whether blocking this m6A-lncRNA axis makes resistant stem cells die. They will study the molecular steps behind this effect and test drug or genetic approaches that could remove resistant leukemia stem cells. The ultimate aim is to find targets that could be developed into treatments to prevent relapse after TKI therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with tyrosine kinase-driven leukemias who have residual disease or who have relapsed or become resistant to TKI therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with cancers not driven by tyrosine kinase alterations or those without leukemia stem cell–driven relapse are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that eliminate resistant leukemia stem cells, lower relapse rates, and improve cure chances for patients on TKI drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory studies link m6A changes (for example via FTO) to TKI resistance, but targeting an m6A‑lncRNA pathway to kill resistant leukemia stem cells is largely a new, preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Shujun — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Liu, Shujun
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.