Targeting the vitamin B6 pathway in acute myeloid leukemia
Official title: Characterizing vitamin B6 pathway dependency in acute myeloid leukemia
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11257716 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether blocking the vitamin B6 pathway can help treat people with acute myeloid leukemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | January 5, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $439,200 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA276938-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11257716 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with acute myeloid leukemia, especially those with relapsed or refractory disease or whose leukemia shows signs of vitamin B6 pathway activity, would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with other cancers, patients whose leukemia does not rely on the vitamin B6 pathway, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists will examine leukemia cells and bone marrow samples to find which enzymes in the vitamin B6 pathway AML cells depend on. They will use genetic tools such as CRISPR screens and laboratory models to turn off those genes and see how leukemia cells respond compared with normal blood stem cells. The team will test drug-like approaches and combinations that inhibit key enzymes to identify potential drug targets. Successful targets would then be moved toward further preclinical testing and possible early-phase patient studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could uncover new targeted therapies that kill AML cells while sparing normal blood cells, potentially improving effectiveness and reducing toxicity.
How similar studies have gone: This is a novel approach with promising laboratory evidence for vitamin B6 dependency but it has not yet produced proven patient treatments.
Where this research is happening
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Lingbo — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Lingbo
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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.