Melanie Balabanov
Telomere Biology in the progression of BCR-ABL-positive leukemia: Uncovering the role of inflammatory processes and cellular senesence
Telomeres have been shown to inherit a pivotal role in human disease and organismal aging. Short telomeres were found in advanced stages of human neoplasia including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a myeloproliferative disorder caused by the oncogenic tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). In this project we would like to decipher the role of telomere length in the progression of CML by using the telomerase knockout mouse model (mTR-/-). In particular, we aim to address the impact of cellular senescence as a potent anti-proliferative mechanism against leukemia formation and the role of a newly-discovered inflammatory phenotype that is closely related to telomere shortening.
In collaboration with Prof. Tim H. Brümmendorf, University Hospital Aachen, Department of Hematology/Oncology Aachen, Germany.