Targeting Microenvironmental Support of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Institution: 

University of Rochester

Researcher(s): 

Craig Mullen, MD/PhD

Grant Type: 

Innovation Grants

Year Awarded: 

2016

Type of Childhood Cancer: 

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer and relapsed ALL is the most common cause of death from childhood cancer. Exciting new research has shown that leukemia cells depend their survival on nonmalignant, noncancerous cells in the body.

Project Goal

This research project explores the ways nonmalignant cells help leukemia cells. Discoveries from this research project have identified specific ways that nonmalignant cells can be treated with drugs in ways that interfere with them keeping leukemia cells alive. This project will study ways these treatments can be combined with current chemotherapy to make them more effective against leukemia.