Targeting selective autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia 

 

Autophagic flux is significantly increased in primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples compared to normal hematopoietic stem cells. Based on our previous data, we now aim to understand the molecular mechanisms governing mitophagy in AML, and we aim to identify kinases and develop highly selective kinase inhibitors regulating mitophagy. One of these projects focusses on the role of MST kinases in regulating autophagy in AML requiring the development of highly selective MST1/2 and MST3/4 inhibitors (so called chemical probes), which we will use to assess the potential of these kinases for the development of new treatment strategies in AML.

 

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