Preventive medicine against leukaemia

Isidro Sanchez-García

Fundacion de Investigacion del Cancer de la Universidad de Salamanca (FICUS), Spain

Leukaemia constitutes one-third of all childhood cancers, with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) as the most prevalent subtype. Although advances in treatment have improved survival rates for children with B-ALL, many survivors suffer from treatment-related late effects, and also, those patients that relapse remain with a poor prognosis.

This project seeks to identify and target pre-leukemic cells in children who have a genetic predisposition to B-ALL before these cells progress to full-blown leukaemia. Recent studies have shown that over 5 % of healthy children are born with these pre-leukemic cells, which can persist for years without developing into cancer. However, certain environmental triggers can cause these cells to become malignant.

Using innovative techniques and models, the research team aims to identify the epigenetic events that drive the transformation of pre-leukemic cells into cancerous ones. By identifying these biomarkers, they aim to predict and prevent the onset of leukaemia. As an ultimate goal they want to shift the paradigm from reactive to preventive medicine, potentially eliminating the burden of B-ALL in childhood. If successful, this project could revolutionize paediatric oncology by providing new strategies for early intervention and prevention, sparing children from the trauma of cancer and its treatment.

• Cesar Cobaleda Hernández, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM), Madrid, Spain

• Manuel Ramírez Orellana, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain

• Lucas Moreno, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain

• Joaquin Duarte Calvete, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil E.P.E., Portugal
  Fundación Unoentrecienmil, Madrid, Spain

Early Risk Detection in Children with Genetic Predisposition to leukemia

€1.000.000,00