Sox4 Oncogene Potential Target In Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The Sox4 oncogene may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

AsianScientist (Dec. 17, 2013) – An international team of researchers has shown that an oncogene known as Sox4 may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

AML, a cancer arising from the abnormal growth in the blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow, is the most common type of acute leukemia affecting adults. It can lead to death within months, or even weeks if left untreated. The identification of a therapeutic target by researchers at the Cancer Science Institute (CSI) Singapore at the National University of Singapore (NUS) may bring reprieve for such patients.

Research has shown genetic abnormalities in AML, with mutations of CEBPA, a tumor suppressor, are found in about ten percent of patients. The findings, published in the journal Cancer Cell, showed that targeting Sox4 significantly affects the major types of leukemia in mutated human CEBPA AML samples.

The researchers will continue to look into the downstream signaling components of Sox4 and examine the effect of pharmaceutical drugs on these pathways, with a view to developing novel therapeutic drugs for cancer.

“Up to now, therapeutic options for AML are very limited. By understanding oncogenic pathways and the signatures, which respond to specific enzyme inhibitors, we can build up our knowledge and understanding towards the development of more efficient drugs. We hope to apply similar approaches to identify new therapeutic avenues for other types of AML,” said Professor Tenen.

The article can be found at: Zhang H et al. (2013) Sox4 Is a Key Oncogenic Target in C/EBPα Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

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Source: National University of Singapore; Photo: RDECOM/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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