New investigations into the molecular causes of a rare pediatric leukemia
The research group at the Department of Medicine and Surgery, coordinated by Dr. Emanuele Azzoni, is exploring new clues suggesting a possible connection between persistent inflammation and the development of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), a rare type of childhood blood cancer.
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) primarily affects very young children, often under 3 years old. Unfortunately, available treatments are limited, and for many of these children, a stem cell or bone marrow transplant is the only therapeutic option, which, however, cures only half of the patients definitively.
The rarity of JMML and the lack of adequate models have so far hindered a deep understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Recent research findings, however, indicate that alterations in the inflammatory process may underlie many leukemias, including JMML.
Inflammation represents a natural and powerful way that our body uses to heal. However, sometimes non-strictly useful inflammatory processes can be triggered and persist for a long time in our body. Dr. Azzoni and his team will work to establish precisely which molecular pathways connect this persistent type of inflammation to JMML. They will then be able to determine whether intervening on such pathways could represent a new approach in treating the disease, thus bringing new hope to the families involved.
"Worldwide Cancer Research fund discovery research around the globe to help find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. We are delighted to support Dr Azzoni's project investigating JMML, a type of cancer which desperately needs new cures. We believe it is vital to fund research like this which asks fundamental questions about how cancer behaves. If we do not understand cancer, we cannot stop it. Good luck to Dr Azzoni and his team, we look forward to seeing how this project evolves." - Steph Sinclair, Science Communications Manager Worldwide Cancer Research