Targeting KDM6B in Pediatric Leukemia
Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer and the leading cause of death in kids with cancer. About 15% of these cases are a subtype called T cell ALL (T-ALL) and these patients are historically linked with poor prognosis. While clinical outcomes have improved with intense chemotherapy, ultimately about a quarter of these patients will relapse. In these cases, the survival prognosis is abysmal. In addition, intensive chemotherapy produces significant side effects associated with the toxicity of these approaches. The design of tumor-specific therapies to improve outcomes and reduce off-target toxicity is vital.
Project Goal: In this proposal, we will use leukemia cells from pediatric T-ALL patients to translate our findings from murine models into a more clinical setting. We will also use genetic tools to identify the precise regions of the KDM6B protein that facilitate its cancer-promoting functions. We will use this information to design a new, more specific drug to target this protein. We hope this work will lead to the development of a new therapy for high-risk pediatric T-ALL patients who have a high likelihood of treatment failure or have suffered a relapse.
Project Update 2022: Our laboratory investigations have identified a novel therapeutic target in pediatric T-ALL – a protein called KDM6B and have worked to understand more about its function. Genetic suppression of KDM6B in mice inhibits development of pediatric T-ALL, but is much less detrimental to healthy blood-forming stem cells. This suggests KDM6B is a good drug target because inhibition is harmful to cancer cells, but should be less toxic for the patient.
