Molecular Cell reveals how acute myeloid leukemia moves between growth and cell death

According to a study published in the journal Molecular Cell on July 20, 2021, researchers have revealed new insights into how acute myeloid leukemia (AML) develops and progresses

Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of blood cells that occurs when immature white blood cells (usually cells that fight infection) acquire certain genetic mutations that cause them to multiply rapidly and form in the bone marrow and blood

This cancer can be driven by genetic mutations, leading to the production of cancer-related mutant proteins, such as mutated IDH2 and IDH1

Although 2-HG can cause cancer, high concentrations of 2-HG can cause toxicity and kill cancer cells

A research team led by Professor Chen Jing, a professor of medicine, found that AML cells can modify the mutated IDH2 and regulate its activity, thereby controlling the amount of 2-HG it produces

Using human AML cells, they found that the mutant IDH2 is controlled by a master regulator called FLT3, which can activate and inactivate proteins through a modification process

"Our research shows that different concentrations of 2-HG in cells are related to key cell functions, and these functions may mean the life and death of cancer cells," Chen said

Treatments for AML include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and drugs that specifically target AML protein drivers

Lysine acetylation restricts mutant IDH2 activity to optimize transformation in AML cells