5-LO enzyme plays an important role in the survival of leukemic stem cells AML

5-LO enzyme plays an important role in the survival of leukemic stem cells AML -

inhibitors of 5-LO remove the cultured cells and mouse models

Despite the improvement in therapy, only one in two adult patients survive acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The median survival for this disease, which occurs mainly in older people, is less than a year for patients over 65 years. It is assumed that the leukemic stem cells that can not be completely eliminated during processing, are the source of relapse. However, as was discovered by a team of researchers based in Frankfurt, these cells have a weakness in the current edition of the journal of high impact " Cancer Research ", they report that the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) plays an important role in the survival of leukemic stem cells AML.

5-LO is known for his role in inflammatory diseases such as asthma. a team led by Dr. Ruthardt Marin Department of Hematology of the medical Clinic II and Dr. Jessica Roos, Prof. Diester Steinhilber and Prof. Thorsten J-rgen Maier pharmaceutical chemistry Institute showed that leukemia stem cells in a subgroup MLF could be selectively and effectively attacked by 5-LO inhibitors. This has been demonstrated in cell culture models, as well as in mouse leukemia models.

"These results provide the basis for the possible implementation of the 5-LO inhibitors as therapeutic agents of stem cells for extended AML cure, although this needs to be studied further in preclinical and clinical studies in humans, "says Dr. Ruthardt. "In addition, there are plans for molecular biological studies to understand exactly how the inhibitors of 5-LO act on the leukemic cells." Teacher. Maier continued.