National Cancer Institute Grants Will Aid in Genomic and Inflammatory Research in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Two grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) totaling more than $6 million will aid The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC)-Author G James Cancer Hospital and Richard J Solove Research Institute study acute myeloid leukemia (AML) genetics and the role of inflammation in regulating the immune response to the disease, according to a news release by the American Association for the Advancement of Science EurekAlert.

The two grants will be used to understand the genetic and genomic contributors of AML and the role of inflammation in regulating the immune response to AML.

“This project combines the strength of the resources of the Bloomfield Center at Ohio State with the cutting-edge genomics and analytics capabilities at the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital,” said Elaine Mardis, PhD, professor of pediatrics at Ohio State and co-leader of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC-James. “Together, we are redefining AML genomics-directed treatment for diverse and often underserved patient populations to achieve best outcomes.”

The grant will aid researchers in identifying genetic and genomic factors not found in current clinical risk assessment tools to target AML more effectively.

“Inflammation and the role of the immune system is an emerging topic in all cancer types, including AML,” said Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD, assistant professor of hematology at Ohio State and director of the Clara D. Bloomfield Center for Leukemia Outcomes Research at the OSUCCC-James. “This study will help us understand how inflammation shapes the clinical and molecular phenotypes of patients, including first insights how we might be able to best target inflammation and overcome its adverse effects.”

Dr Eisfeld and her colleagues hope to provide vital information that will enable clinicians to target abnormal inflammation as an immune response in patients with AML, which is the most prevalent form of acute leukemia among adults. This study aims to uncover valuable insights that were previously unknown.

Reference

EurekAlert! Two NCI grants will support innovative studies of acute myeloid leukemia. Published October 25, 2023. Accessed November 2, 2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1005902