Mangolini, M;
(2013)
Oncogenic Signalling in t(12;21) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
Doctoral thesis (PhD), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
The t(12;21)(p13;q22) translocation is present in up to 25% of children with pre-B cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). This translocation involves two transcription factors, TEL (ETV6) and AML (RUNX1), both of which have crucial roles in regulating haematopoiesis. Clinically, TEL-AML1 positive patients have good prognoses. However, late relapses, additional genetic lesions affecting prognosis, and long-term side-effects of chemotherapy remain a cause for concern. In light of recent studies showing genetic and functional heterogeneities in cells responsible for cancer clone maintenance and propagation, targeting common deregulated pathways may be critical for the success of novel therapies. Using Affymetrix GeneChip global gene expression analysis our laboratory previously identified three genes: Tbx2, E2f5 and Lif-R, specifically expressed in TEL-AML1 transduced mouse foetal liver haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) cells compared with control cells. Over-expression of these genes was confirmed by real-time qPCR and the specificity of target gene expression was evaluated in human TEL-AML1 positive and negative leukaemia cells. Pathway analysis of TEL-AML1 transcriptional target genes also demonstrated deregulated expression of genes associated with STAT3 signalling, known to be one of the most important pathways required for proliferation and maintenance of multipotency in cancer stem cells. In this study we demonstrate the importance of STAT3 activity in a mouse model of TEL-AML1 overexpression, in human TEL-AML1 positive leukaemia cells and primary human leukaemic samples. Our data indicate a central role for TEL-AML1 in maintaining activated STAT3. This is mediated by transcriptional induction of the Guanine nucleotide exchange factor, ARHGEF4, leading to RAC1 activation and consequent stimulation of STAT3. The latter is necessary for survival, proliferation and self-renewal of TEL-AML1 positive leukaemia through transcriptional induction of MYC expression. In conclusion, we show a novel signalling pathway important for maintenance of t(12;21) leukaemia that constitutes a promising novel therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | PhD |
| Title: | Oncogenic Signalling in t(12;21) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1415780 |
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