Investigating loss of the tumour suppressor PTEN in leukaemia

• PhD
• Honours

About 20% of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) show loss of PTEN (Pölönen, Nature 2024 632:1082). PTEN is a negative regulator of the PI3K signalling pathway.

This pathway has been linked in CHD1 protein stabilisation. In addition, PTEN loss might be mutually exclusive with CHD1 loss in prostate cancers (Zhao, Nature 2017 542:484). Here we try to find out whether this link also exists in T-ALL.

This project explores the molecular relationship between PTEN and CHD1 using model cell lines, cell death assays with target specific inhibitors, western blots, CRISPR-Cas9 genetic engineering, amplicon sequencing and flow cytometry.

The Huang/Roberts labs focusses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying apoptosis in blood cancers. The labs span expertise in the areas of cell biology and molecular biology, with particular emphasis on CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens and functional genomics.

The lab consists of both basic and clinical scientists who work collaboratively to translate fundamental biological findings into meaningful clinical applications.

This multidisciplinary team tackles problems from different angles, integrating diverse experimental approaches and clinical insights to drive therapeutic innovation so that we can improve patient outcomes.