Research >> Leukemia/Lymphoma

Several areas of leukemia and lymphoma have been the topics of research in the department for more than a decade, especially the myeloid malignancies.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Treatment of Acute promyelocytic leukemia in the world has been revolutionized by the use of arsenic trioxide since 1997. Our department pioneered the introduction of this therapy in India soon after that continues to be involved in clinical trials and the molecular genetics of the disease particularly from the point of view of resistance of this drug. The work in this field has also led to major publications and internationally recognized. Three graduate students are working on several aspects of leukemia research.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Evaluation of cellular and molecular mechanisms of resistance to arsenic trioxide in acute promyelocytic leukemia- funded by DBT, India
• Evaluation Of Cellular and Immune Response in Mice and Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Treated with Arsenic Trioxide funded by INSERM-ICMR 2011-2013. PI: Vikram Mathews.
• Study the role of cell adhesion mediated drug resistance in Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia treated with Arsenic trioxide and evaluate the potential role of drugs that can inhibit it.- Wellcome DBT India Alliance- PI: Dr. Vikram Mathews

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Present research in this area focuses on evaluating prognostic markers in AML and identifying the mechanisms of Cytarabine and Daunorubicin resistance in acute myeloid leukemia. We explore these questions through molecular and cellular biology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics and epigenetics of the genes involved in transport and biotransformation of these drugs. We are also trying to understand the role of leukemic stem cells in AML on drug resistance.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Project 1: Evaluation of prognostic markers in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, funded by DBT, India 2009-2014 PI: Vikram Mathews
• Project 2: “Pharmacogenetics of cytarabine and Daunorubicin in Acute Myeloid Leukemia”- funded by DBT, India 2009-2014, PI: Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian
• Project 3: Pharmacogenetics of cytarabine and Daunorubicin Resistance in the Leukemic Stem Cell Compartment in acute myeloid leukemia- funded by INSERM-ICMR, 2010-2012. PI: Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Exploring the mechanisms of Imatinib mesylate resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia through molecular and cellular biology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics and epigenetics of the genes involved in transport and biotransformation of Imatinib. The specific objectives of the study are to optimize molecular monitoring in CML by serial RQ-PCR, and sensitive mutation detection methods; to identify the best measure of Imatinib exposure (among plasma level Imatinib monitoring, intracellular IM and IC50 of IM) and correlate with clinical response and to study the pharmacogenetics of IM biotransformation and transport and correlate with IM levels and response.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Project 1: Mechanisms of Imatinib resistance in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia- funded by DBT, India 2009-2014. PI: Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian

Faculties Involved

• Auro Viswabandya, M.D., D.M
• Poonkuzhali Balasubramanian, Ph.D
• Vikram Mathews, M.D, D.M