A research team has examined how acute myeloid leukemia develops.
The researchers took a closer look at the molecule succinate and the receptor SUCNR1. These two substances help regulate whether blood stem cells remain at rest or begin to divide.
When this balance functions properly, normal blood cells are formed. If the regulation fails, the cells can develop into cancer cells.
The study has been published in Nature Communications.
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Serious disease
Acute myeloid leukemia begins in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced.
The disease can affect anyone, but it is most commonly seen in people over the age of 65. In this age group, fewer than five percent survive, according to Digi24.
The only treatment that can cure the disease is a stem cell transplant.
This is a demanding procedure with serious side effects, and many elderly patients are unable to tolerate it.
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There is therefore a need for new and less aggressive treatment options.
Healthy stem cells
In the study, researchers analyzed both patient data and experiments conducted on mice. They found that low levels of SUCNR1 are associated with lower survival rates among patients.
In the mouse experiments, levels of succinate, SUCNR1, and the protein S100A9 influenced the development of the disease.
According to the researchers, activation of SUCNR1 may help keep stem cells healthy.
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Previously, succinate has mainly been viewed as a factor that worsens the disease. The new findings suggest that the substance may also play a protective role.
The next step is to investigate whether the discovery can be used to develop more targeted treatments for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
Sources: Digi24, and Nature Communications.
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