Award details

Tumor Therapy In Transgenic Mice Expressing the Nucleophosmin-Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000F057
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Denis Alexander
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	34,180
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2002
End date	30/09/2005
Duration	36 months

Abstract

ALKoma is a type of non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma affecting mainly children and young adults. Patients that suffer from this form of cancer carry an abnormal gene that leads to expression of an abnormal protein called NPM-ALK. This protein has very high activity of an enzyme called a tyrosine kinase. Although of a relatively good prognosis, the combination chemotherapy treatment currently employed is in itself an ordeal for ALKoma patients, particularly those of a young age. Our research aims to utilise mouse models of the disease in order to develop novel therapies that would avoid any need for chemotherapy. For example in recent years kinase inhibitor drugs have been developed for the treatment of a form of leukaemia that expresses a kinase similar to NPM-ALK called Bcr-Abl. These inhibitors have been found to be very effective. These drugs target directly the malfunctional protein and therefore do not have the debilitating side effects of common chemotherapy drugs. Our research will help to determine if kinase inhibitors are also a suitable treatment for ALKoma.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

I accept the terms and conditions of use (opens in new window)

export PDF file

back to list new search