Targeting the DPP4 protein to treat acute myeloid leukemia
Membrane protein target for leukemia therapy
Looks at whether blocking a cell-surface protein called DPP4 can stop or slow acute myeloid leukemia in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri-Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11046980 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the protein DPP4 helps leukemia stem cells survive and spread by examining human AML cells and patient-derived samples in the lab. They will test drugs that block DPP4 on human leukemia cells grown in dishes and use genetic methods to reduce DPP4 activity. The team will also use mouse models to see whether blocking DPP4 prevents leukemia growth and to study effects on cell death, location in the bone marrow, and signaling pathways. Findings from these lab and animal tests will inform whether targeting DPP4 could move toward treatments for people with AML.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, especially those whose leukemia cells show higher DPP4 activity, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People with other types of leukemia or cancers, or whose AML does not involve DPP4, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new treatments that target DPP4 to kill leukemia stem cells and improve survival for people with acute myeloid leukemia.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal data reported by the investigators and others suggest that DPP4 inhibitors can slow or prevent AML growth, but clinical testing in patients has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of Missouri-Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang, Xunlei — University of Missouri-Columbia
- Study coordinator: Kang, Xunlei
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.