Grant: Operating Grant

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive cancer occurring in children and adults wherein cells belonging to the immune system acquire a defect in their normal regulatory circuitry and grow in an uncontrolled manner. In many instances, T-ALL is caused when the TAL1 protein (which is normally present in red blood cells) is aberrantly produced in white blood cells. This disrupts the growth control mechanism of specific cells of the immune system. To understand how this mis-expression of TAL1 in white blood cells leads to leukemia, we have recently identified the genes that are deregulated in diseased cells. In this new application, we will further these studies to examine how TAL1 interacts with specific proteins present in white blood cells, leading to deregulation of these genes. Our novel approach could lead to new therapy for treating children and adults affected with this deadly disease.