During National Cancer Research Month in May we put a spotlight on the importance of medical research and on the physicians and physician scientists who are tirelessly working toward finding better treatments and a cure for leukemia. Their commitment toward new discoveries and breakthroughs is changing lives. Thank you for making a world of difference every day. https://bit.ly/4mhAPHF #NationalCancerResearchMonth #Leukemia #LeukemiaResearch (fb)

Dr. Christian Hurtz, a 2022 New Investigator Research Grant recipient, and his laboratory team, have identified a new potential treatment target for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This research focused on a protein called DYRK1A, which helps leukemia cells grow. The team discovered that blocking DYRK1A can slow down or stop the growth of leukemia cells in certain patients, specifically those with high-risk subtypes of ALL that currently have poor survival rates in children despite intensive chemotherapy. Even more promising, the study showed that combining a DYRK1A-blocking drug with venetoclax, a medicine that is already used in other blood cancers, worked especially well. This dual treatment approach may offer a safer and more effective option for children with aggressive, hard-to-treat leukemia. Dr. Srividya Swaminathan, a 2023 NIRG recipient, also contributed to the project. The study was recently published in the journal Leukemia: https://bit.ly/42UN7OA #leukemia #LeukemiaResearch #acutelymphoblasticleukemia (fb)