Summary
Various cellular events may lead to cancer. These include DNA mutations that change a protein’s structure as well as alterations that change the way genes are expressed. A team led by Dr. Abdel-Wahab at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recently published research showing a connection between specific mutations and how certain genes are expressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They show that mutations in the RNA splicing factor SRSF2 are more common in AML than previously known. This research also reveals the important observation that SRSF2 mutations frequently overlap with IDH2 mutations and that these mutant proteins cooperate to drive AML development. These observations are accompanied by a detailed mechanistic understanding of this cooperation. Dr. Abdel-Wahab’s research further suggests that this cooperation may also extend to other cancers. Since there are FDA approved drugs targeting mutant IDH and efforts to develop drugs targeting cells with mutant splicing factors, Dr. Abdel-Wahab’s research identifies a potential therapeutic path for patients with AML. Read More...
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