Download Hematologic Malignancies - Jacquie Hirsch For ALL Foundation

Jacquie Hirsch
Leukemia Research Project
Eunice S. Wang MD
Norma J. Nowak PhD
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Leukemia is a
cancer of the
blood where
normal blood cells
have gone “bad”
DNA, Chromosomes, and genes
Each cell contains DNA
DNA is the genetic code
inherited from your parents
DNA is arranged in structures
called chromosomes (X-like).
Genes
Each chromosome consists
of thousands of genes
Genes tell cells how to work.
For example, genes on
X and Y chromosomes
determine your gender.
Percentage of patients alive
Without leukemia events
Patients with acute MLL+ leukemias
have poor outcomes
No MLL (80%)
MLL gene (30-50%)
Years after diagnosis
Goal of our Research
The goal of this project is to identify and
characterize the key genes and pathways
involved in MLL-associated leukemia for
future development of novel treatments for
this specific acute leukemia type.
Gene/Genetic analyses
Gene expression data
(33,000 genes per sample)
So… what
does this
data all
mean????
Biological Network models
A social network is a
description of the social
structure between actors,
mostly individuals or
organizations. It indicates
the ways in which they are
connected through various
social familiarities ranging
from casual acquaintance to
close familiar bonds
Systems Biology Workflow
1. Altered Gene List
2. Human Reference
Network
4. Identify Network Modules
3. Cancer Specific Network
5. Evaluate Statistical Significance
of Cancer Specific Network
MLL-rearranged T-AML disease network
• Network of ≈500 genes
• < 20% genes associated
with leukemia’s
• 35% novel genes
• 10 novel drug targets
MLL-rearranged T-AML disease subnetwork
Other funded research
American Society of
Hematology (2012)
poster presentation
-TH-302 in acute
leukemia
Krista Pundt
(RPCI graduate student)
This work was made possible by:
Jacquie Hirsch for ALL Foundation
Special thanks to:
Dancers Give Back