Identification of risk factors and deduction of pathway dependencies for ETV6-RUNX1+ preleukemia

• Applicant: Dr. Ute Fischer, since 5/2022
• Subject Area: Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine ; Hematology, Oncology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 495318549

We aim to identify risk factors for ETV6-RUNX1-positive preleukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To that end, we will investigate two different population-based cohorts of newborns in detail. The first cohort provides associated data on maternal diet, stress during pregnancy, epigenome, metabolome, microbiome, and immune responses of mothers and newborns. An additional strength of this cohort is the availability of samples and data that can be prospectively collected to validate and follow-up on specific cases. This cohort was collected starting in 2017 and the children are to date up to four years old. Therefore, the age of risk of ALL will be passed in about one year and the actual incidence of ALL will be assessable for most of the children at the end of the proposed project. The second cohort in comparison allows us to inquire the newborns’ health status until the current age of 16-17 years. In addition, we aim at evaluating the frequency of ETV6-RUNX1 in adults by investigating an additional cohort of healthy adults. In all cohorts, we will look at known predisposing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that define polygenic risk scores.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Spain
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Eduard Gratacós
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Daniel Hein, until 5/2022