Does sphingosine kinase 1 contribute towards bone marrow mediated chemotherapy resistance in acute myeloid leukaemia?

Glasgow Caledonian University

Past award

Student: Zara Puckrin : Glasgow Caledonian University

Year Award Started: 2018

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) is one of the most common adult blood cancers. Survival rates have remained low, with drug resistance (chemoresistance) playing a major role. Chemoresistance can occur through cross-talk between AML cells and bone marrow dwelling cells, including fibroblasts. This project will investigate the effect of growing AML cells with fibroblast secreted factors on the levels of a protein known to induce cell survival: sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1). As elevated SK1 levels in AML lead to chemoresistance, this study will lead to a better understanding of chemoresistance in AML.

Research area: Cancer

Supervisors:

Dr Mark Williams
School of Health and Life Sciences