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ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA 

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a disease of the blood and bone marrow, where an excess number of immature white blood cells — called myeloid cells — interfere with the production of normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Despite substantial progress in the development of therapies for AML, cures remain out of reach for most patients.

Break Through Cancer has undertaken a series of TeamLab projects designed to change this story — leveraging new knowledge, world-class expertise, and novel methods to create highly effective treatment strategies.

Two projects, now underway, aim to develop cures for this intractable disease.

ERADICATING MEASURABLE RESIDUAL DISEASE IN AML

While AML often responds well to initial treatment, most patients have residual cancer cells that cause the disease to return. Too frequently, the resurgent malignancy does not respond to follow-up treatments — perhaps because of residual cells’ inherent resistance, or due to a protective niche in the micro-environment or resulting from as-yet-unknown factors. This ambitious project explores the biological mechanisms underlying minimally residual AML immediately after initial responses, seeking to identify targets for treatment strategies to keep the disease from returning.

TARGETING CLONAL HEMATOPOIESIS TO PREVENT AML

This project asks the provocative question, “Is AML preventable by intercepting the progression of its pre-malignant state, clonal hematopoiesis?” Pursuing a novel investigative strategy bringing together clinical trials and laboratory modeling, this TeamLab intends to create a new paradigm for AML management: one based on identifying individuals at greatest risk of developing the disease and on creating strategies for early detection and prevention.

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Your contribution fuels groundbreaking research in some of the most challenging cancers. Every gift accelerates progress. For more information please contact Michaela Forand at MF@breakthroughcancer.org or 1-800-757-9881 ext 709.

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