New medicines for acute myeloid leukemia
Development of AMPK Inhibitors for the treatment of leukemia
This research is creating new medicines to target hard-to-treat leukemia cells in people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11118909 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience their cancer returning, especially because some cancer cells, called leukemic stem cells (LSCs), are very resistant to current treatments. Our scientists found that these tough LSCs have high levels of a protein called AMPK, which helps them survive. This project aims to create new medicines that can block AMPK, making these resistant LSCs more vulnerable. By targeting AMPK, we hope to eliminate these difficult cells or make them more responsive to existing therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly those whose disease has relapsed or is resistant to current therapies, are the focus of this research.
Not a fit: Patients with other types of leukemia or cancers not driven by AMPK activity may not directly benefit from this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for acute myeloid leukemia, especially for patients whose cancer has returned.
How similar studies have performed: While some multi-kinase inhibitors have shown AMPK inhibition, this project focuses on developing new, more potent, and selective AMPK-targeted agents, representing a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reigan, Philip — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Reigan, Philip
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.