Birmingham researchers have identified that a particular protein is crucial to the growth of leukaemia cells. This protein is typically present in the brain, where it helps recycle molecules used for communication between certain neurons.
Based on previously published research, researchers predicted and tested hundreds of chemical compounds for their ability to stop the protein from working. They identified four different compounds which were able to do this, and developed further inhibitors based on these compounds.
Dr Maarten Hoogenkamp, Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Bennet Fellow at the University of Birmingham, said: “Our idea of stopping the function of EAAT1 protein as a treatment option came several years ago in the laboratory and since then we generated molecules to inhibit EAAT1.
These work well in the lab but now need to be optimised to work in patients. This funding will support and accelerate this process, so that we can hopefully make a real difference in the treatment success of T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in the near future.”
The new funding will support their current and future work to improve these inhibitors, so that they can test their capacity to inhibit the growth of leukaemia in mice. Researchers hope that the inhibitors can then be taken forward into clinical use, to be developed as a new treatment for T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.
