Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains the most common pediatric cancer in the United States. In particular, Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL (Ph-like ALL), a major ALL subtype that is characterized by poor treatment outcomes and high relapse rate, disproportionately affects the Hispanic communities in South Texas. We are a leading research group in the application of state-of-the-art genomic analytical tools to define the molecular etiology of Ph-like ALL and to explain why this disease is often poorly responsive to standard-of-care treatment regimens and associated with a high relapse rate. Importantly, our work has revealed how an inherited mutation in the GATA3 gene, which is central...

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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains the most common pediatric cancer in the United States. In particular, Philadelphia chromosome-like ALL (Ph-like ALL), a major ALL subtype that is characterized by poor treatment outcomes and high relapse rate, disproportionately affects the Hispanic communities in South Texas. We are a leading research group in the application of state-of-the-art genomic analytical tools to define the molecular etiology of Ph-like ALL and to explain why this disease is often poorly responsive to standard-of-care treatment regimens and associated with a high relapse rate. Importantly, our work has revealed how an inherited mutation in the GATA3 gene, which is central to Ph-like ALL etiology especially among children and young adults of Hispanic roots, alters normal cell physiology to lead to an adverse disease state and unusually high disease relapse rate, even if primary treatment proves to be successful. Altogether, our research findings make a compelling case for incorporating the status of the GATA3 gene into ALL patient stratification regimes. Our research program at University of Texas Health San Antonio will strive to furnish deep mechanistic understanding of the molecular etiology of Ph-like ALL, identify novel therapeutic targets for this disease, and develop therapeutic regimes to improve not only prevention and treatment outcomes, but also to minimize relapse of this dreadful disease. Our research goals and objectives will benefit greatly from the superior research infrastructure of UT Health San Antonio particularly in areas of cancer biology and etiology, and from interactions and collaborations with institutional colleagues who are leaders in leukemia and other cancer types. Given all these favorable circumstances, we expect our research endeavors to proceed briskly, and to exert a foundational impact on the cancer health agenda of South Texas with a predominantly Hispanic populace.

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