AML1-ETO9a (AE9a), an alternative splice product found in t(8;21) AML patients, was associated with adverse clinical outcome and causes leukemia upon retroviral transduction/ transplantation in mice. However, recent analyses of patient data argue against a prognostic impact in t(8;21)-positive AML patients. In addition, a novel inducible mouse model of hematopoietic AE9a expression failed to develop leukemia, suggesting that additional cell-intrinsic (e.g. deregulated gene expression) and non-cell-autonomous events (e.g. distinct signals from the niche) are required for AE9a-mediated leukemia. To identify such events, a retroviral insertion mutagenesis together with molecular and biochemical validation and comparative analyses in clinical data sets will be performed. A critical contribution of dysregulated Notch transcription in AML was recently observed. Therefore, the role of Notch in (AE9a-mediated) AML will be further deciphered using small molecule compounds identified in a pre-screen to modulate Notch activity. Importantly, positive hits can rather quickly be translated into the clinic, as some of these compounds are already clinically approved.

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