Challenge
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a life-threatening blood cancer affecting Australians of all ages with great impact on death and quality of life. Around 1,000 people being diagnosed with AML in Australia each year.
This project aims to understand why certain types of AML do not respond to a promising novel treatment that targets a protein called menin. Menin is essential for the growth of some leukaemia cells. While menin inhibitors have shown potential in treating AML, resistance to this therapy can develop, making the treatment less effective over time.
Focus
The research led by Dr Nedumannil will use a number of advanced genetic technologies to investigate this resistance in an attempt to identify which genetic changes help cancer cells survive despite treatment with menin inhibitors.
Impact
By integrating data from these cutting-edge techniques, the research aims to uncover new therapeutic approaches to overcome resistance. This research has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with menin-dependent AML by providing a deeper understanding of the disease and paving the way for more effective therapies.
Researcher
Rithin Nedumannil is a dual-trained haematologist, currently completing a Fellowship in Acute Leukaemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
He has research interests in the use of novel targeted therapies in myeloid malignancies and the molecular mechanisms that lead to treatment resistance.
