Targeting a sugar pathway to help treat AML
Official title: Targeting Hexosamine Biosynthetic Pathway and O-GlcNAcylation to Treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11399497 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to explore whether dialing down a specific sugar-adding pathway can slow or stop acute myeloid leukemia in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005941-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399497 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia, especially those who have relapsed or resistant disease, may be eligible for future trials or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with AML who do not respond to alterations in sugar metabolism or who cannot tolerate new therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on acute myeloid leukemia and how cancer cells use glucose to fuel growth. Researchers are looking at the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway and a sugar tag called O-GlcNAcylation to see if turning down this process can kill leukemia cells while sparing normal cells. The work involves laboratory studies on patient-derived cells and leukemia models to understand the role of these sugar-related changes in relapse and treatment resistance. If successful, the approach could lead to new ways to prevent relapse and improve outcomes for people with AML.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that reduce relapse and improve survival for AML patients.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest that reducing this sugar pathway can kill AML cells while sparing normal cells, supporting further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramakrishnan, Parameswaran — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ramakrishnan, Parameswaran
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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.