ABC transporters and cholesterol metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia

PhD ceremony: Ms. S.D.P.W.M. de Jonge-Peeters, 13.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Title: ABC transporters and cholesterol metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia

Promotor(s): prof. E. Vellenga, prof. E.G.E. de Vries, prof. F. Kuiper

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease of hematopoietic bone marrow stem cells. Knowledge about the defence mechanisms of bone marrow stem cells against chemotherapy may provide important new targets to improve antileukemic treatment.In this thesis ATP binding Cassette (ABC) transporter expression and function in different hematopoietic cell fractions were studied. Result show that some ABC transporters, which are known to be involved in cholesterol metabolism, are highly expressed in the primitive cell fraction of hematopoietic cells. Subsequently, in vitro studies showed that, for a subgroup of AML patients, malignant cells became more sensitive to standard chemotherapeutic treatment when used with commonly used cholesterol lowering drugs (statins).