What affects how daily 6-mercaptopurine works in teens and young adults with ALL
Official title: Predictors of Systemic Exposure to Oral 6MP During Maintenance in Adolescentsand Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11285487 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at why some adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have lower amounts of the active 6-mercaptopurine metabolite in their body during maintenance treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | March 24, 2021 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $523,662 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA248439-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11285487 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Teens and young adults (roughly ages 15–39) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are in the maintenance phase taking daily oral 6-mercaptopurine are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not on daily 6MP maintenance (for example those in induction/consolidation or receiving different therapies) or who have other cancers are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you are a teen or young adult on maintenance therapy for ALL taking daily 6-mercaptopurine (6MP), researchers will measure the active 6MP metabolite incorporated into DNA (DNA-TG) to see how much drug exposure you have. They will combine those lab measurements with information about how you take your medicine and the dose intensity your provider prescribes. The team will also collect information about barriers and supports that affect taking 6MP and how healthcare is managed during maintenance. Findings will be used to link real-world medication use and provider practices to lab-measured drug exposure in AYA patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify patients with low 6MP exposure and guide targeted support or dosing changes to lower relapse risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large studies have shown that low DNA-TG levels link to higher relapse risk, but focused work on AYA-specific adherence and provider dose practices is newer.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolfson, Julie Anna — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Wolfson, Julie Anna
Related research
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Combinatorial targeting for high-risk B-cell ALL treatment
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Understanding why Latino children have a higher risk of childhood ALL
This project looks at why Latino children are more likely to develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia and whether genetic ancestry plays a role, with the goal of improving prevention and outcomes.
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Targeting obesity to improve survival for children with ALL
A new approach explores whether reducing obesity-related factors can make chemotherapy work better for kids with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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.