Xiaorong Gu, PhD

Vulnerable Gene in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients May Lead to Cure

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a devastating disease that affects the blood and bone marrow, and less than one third of AML patients survive beyond five years. Traditional treatments often fall short, leaving a critical need for innovative approaches. Xiaorong Gu, PhD, is investigating a mutation that creates a potential weak point in cancer cells, which affects how cancer cells process nutrients and grow.

A majority of leukemia is driven by mutations in genes. These changes allow cancer cells to multiply, but they also make the cells vulnerable to certain treatments. One such mutation that occurs in many leukemia patients is in a gene called TET2. Dr. Gu’s study examines how this gene has a defect in the way it uses nutrients, which makes it vulnerable to a pathway that may be dispensable for normal blood cells.

“If we can target this TET2 mutation, we can potentially cure these patients,” says Dr. Gu. “By working with the clinicians, we have a connection with the patient. It gives us hope to bring our work from the bench to the clinical setting. That’s the best part of working at Cleveland Clinic.”

Dr. Gu’s goal is to target this genetic problem as a new approach to treating AML. “Saving lives is important to me because it makes my everyday work meaningful, and I have a goal to achieve,” says Dr. Gu.