STAT3 Isoformen in akuter myeloischer Leukämie

• Project number: P 32693-B
• Project duration: 48 months from 01 February 2020
• Project management: Dagmar Stoiber-Sakaguchi, Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences / Department of Pharmacology

Background
The risk of developing cancer increases with age. Leukaemia, a type of cancer that originates from blood stem cells, shows a particularly strong correlation with age. Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is the second most common form of leukaemia in children and the most common leukaemia in adults over 50. As patients get older, their chance of survival also decreases.
A central signalling pathway in the development of cancer is the JAK/STAT signalling pathway. In this planned study, we will therefore focus on two variants of a component of this signalling pathway, namely STAT3, and its role in the development of AML. The expression of these STAT3 isoforms has implications for prognosis and could influence disease progression. Therefore, the aim of this study is to find out how STAT3 isoforms influence leukaemia development, with a focus on investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms. To this end, various experimental models of human-relevant tumourigenesis, as well as state-of-the-art in vitro experiments, will be used.
It is expected that the results of the planned study will contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of STAT3 isoforms, thereby improving the clinical treatment of patients with AML and paving the way for modern individualised treatment strategies for AML patients.