Acute myeloid leukemia – Prof. Nina Cabezas Wallscheid (ETHZ) et Prof. Petya Apostolova (USB)

Preventing leukemia stem cells from suppressing the immune system

Targeting metabolic interactions between leukemic stem cells, macrophages, and T cells to overcome immune evasion in acute myeloid leukemia

This project focuses on acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of blood cancer that frequently relapses. These relapses are primarily linked to leukemic stem cells capable of resisting treatment and persisting in the bone marrow and creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment.

The researchers aim to understand how these cells alter their environment by releasing certain metabolic intermediates, notably adenosine and creatine, and secreting these to their environment. These substances can weaken the activity of macrophages and T cells, thereby allowing leukemic cells to evade the immune system. The project will assess whether blocking these metabolic mechanisms can restore immune defenses and improve the effectiveness of standard treatments, using a mouse-human bone marrow model.