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TARGET - TARGET Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

TARGET Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

TARGET

Program Description

The TARGET Acute Myeloid Leukemia projects employed comprehensive molecular characterization to determine the genetic changes that drive the initiation and progression of high-risk or hard-to-treat childhood cancers. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer that originates in the bone marrow from immature white blood cells known as myeloblasts. About 25% of all children with leukemia have AML. Although survival rates have increased since the 1970s, approximately half of all childhood AML cases relapse despite intensive treatment. Additional therapies following relapse are often unsuccessful and can be especially difficult and damaging for children. These patients would clearly benefit from targeted therapeutic approaches.

Through comprehensive genome-wide characterization, TARGET researchers are identifying the genetic and epigenetic alterations of relapsed disease. The ultimate goal is to translate their discoveries into novel treatments that will improve outcomes for children with AML. To learn more about pediatric AML and current treatment strategies, visit the NCI pediatric AML website.

TARGET AML molecular characterization analyses include gene expression array, copy number array, DNA methylation, Whole Genome Sequencing, Whole Exome Sequencing, RNA-seq, miRNA-seq and Targeted Capture Sequencing.

Publications