Tumor Stroma Interactions scientist co-authors study on novel leukemia treatment

• Tumor Stroma Interactions
• Department of Cancer Research
• Cancer

A recently published study in the Journal of Hematology & Oncology, co-authored by Dr. Anne Largeot of the Tumor Stroma Interactions group, has unveiled promising findings regarding the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a very aggressive type of leukemia in which survival prognosis is very low.  

In some variants of AML, a key enzyme known as KAT6A is translocated or rearranged, meaning that it has fused with another protein. This process creates an abnormal protein that relies on the enzymatic properties of KAT6A to fuel tumors. Unfortunately for patients, these variants have especially dismal prospects. However, this study shows that these AMLs respond positively to WM-1119, a novel small molecule therapy that inhibits KAT6A’s enzymatic activity.

For some other subtypes of AMLs in which KAT6A is not translocated, it has been shown that the enzyme is nevertheless required to sustain leukemic cells. This study suggests that inhibition of KAT6A with WM-1119 is not effective in this case. The authors suggest that a more effective method would be using molecules that completely degrade the enzyme, thus offering a more comprehensive therapeutic strategy. This approach holds great potential for developing more effective treatments for AML patients across different genetic subtypes.

Dr. Anne Largeot, scientist in the Tumor Stroma Interactions group led by Dr. Jerome Paggetti and Dr. Etienne Moussay, is co-first author of this important research. She conducted significant parts of the study during her postdoctoral fellowship at the Manchester Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Institute in the group of Prof. Georges Lacaud, and continued after she joined the LIH. Her contributions have been key in advancing the study.

Overall, this new research offers new hope for patients with aggressive AML and points toward future therapeutic innovations for more complex cases.

Congratulations to Dr. Largeot for her interesting publication!