Epigenetics Aids AML Research

According to NCI, there are well over 300 ongoing clinical trials for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is an important disease model to our understanding of how epigenetics fits into the multidimensional cancer process.  Please find below a description of AML, and a few recent important studies providing traction on AML sub-type biomarkers and drug targets using epigenetic techniques. AML is a blood and marrow cancer. Myeloid stem cells abnormally propagate and differentiate into non-functional red blood cell, white blood cell, or platelets.  Clinical sub-typing is currently based on the degree of derivation from normal cells microscopically, and by cytogenic methods. Adult AML is diagnosed when 20% or greater leukemia cells appear in the bone marrow. Keep in mind, this … Continue reading →