Featured Publications
In vivo anti-tumor effect of PARP inhibition in IDH1/2 mutant MDS/AML resistant to targeted inhibitors of mutant IDH1/2
Gbyli R, Song Y, Liu W, Gao Y, Biancon G, Chandhok NS, Wang X, Fu X, Patel A, Sundaram R, Tebaldi T, Mamillapalli P, Zeidan AM, Flavell RA, Prebet T, Bindra RS, Halene S. In vivo anti-tumor effect of PARP inhibition in IDH1/2 mutant MDS/AML resistant to targeted inhibitors of mutant IDH1/2. Leukemia 2022, 36: 1313-1323. PMID: 35273342, PMCID: PMC9103411, DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01536-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcute myeloid leukemiaMyelodysplastic syndromeMDS/acute myeloid leukemiaRefractory acute myeloid leukemiaPARP inhibitionVivo anti-tumor effectsAlternate therapeutic optionsSubset of AMLAnti-tumor effectsPre-clinical studiesRibose polymerase inhibitorsSerial transplantation assaysHomologous recombination defectsTherapeutic optionsTreatment optionsOverall engraftmentHigh relapseIDH inhibitionMyeloid leukemiaIsocitrate dehydrogenase 1Small molecule inhibitorsCell frequencyXeno-graftsIDH1/2 mutationsMalignant transformationA highly efficient and faithful MDS patient-derived xenotransplantation model for pre-clinical studies
Song Y, Rongvaux A, Taylor A, Jiang T, Tebaldi T, Balasubramanian K, Bagale A, Terzi YK, Gbyli R, Wang X, Fu X, Gao Y, Zhao J, Podoltsev N, Xu M, Neparidze N, Wong E, Torres R, Bruscia EM, Kluger Y, Manz MG, Flavell RA, Halene S. A highly efficient and faithful MDS patient-derived xenotransplantation model for pre-clinical studies. Nature Communications 2019, 10: 366. PMID: 30664659, PMCID: PMC6341122, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08166-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPatient-derived xenograftsMyelodysplastic syndromeXenotransplantation modelDysplastic morphologyImmunodeficient murine hostsPre-clinical studiesMDS stem cellsMDS subtypesComprehensive preclinical studiesPreclinical studiesTherapeutic efficacyMurine hostSerial transplantationDrug mechanismsMDS researchStem cell propagationStem cellsDifferentiation potentialHematopoietic stem cell nicheGenetic complexityNovel avenuesStem cell nicheCell propagationDisease representationsImmunodeficient
2024
GPR68 supports AML cells through the calcium/calcineurin pro-survival pathway and confers chemoresistance by mediating glucose metabolic symbiosis
He X, Hawkins C, Lawley L, Phan T, Park I, Joven N, Zhang J, Wunderlich M, Mizukawa B, Pei S, Patel A, VanOudenhove J, Halene S, Fang J. GPR68 supports AML cells through the calcium/calcineurin pro-survival pathway and confers chemoresistance by mediating glucose metabolic symbiosis. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis Of Disease 2024, 167565. PMID: 39522891, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167565.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute myeloid leukemiaAcute myeloid leukemia cellsPro-survival pathwaysInhibiting isocitrate dehydrogenaseMetabolic symbiosisMyelodysplastic syndromeHematopoietic malignanciesExtracellular acidosisAssociated with inferior clinical outcomesCellular respirationFirst-line chemotherapeutic agentAcute myeloid leukemia patientsInferior clinical outcomesAerobic glycolysisCell survival in vitroEngraftment in vivoDecreased Ca<sup>2+</sup> levelDecreased aerobic glycolysisSurvival in vitroGlucose metabolic pathwaysG protein-coupled receptor 68Impacts chemosensitivityIn vitro observationsTumoricidal effectMyeloid leukemiaSplicing the Difference: Harnessing the complexity of the transcriptome in hematopoiesis
Maul-Newby H, Halene S. Splicing the Difference: Harnessing the complexity of the transcriptome in hematopoiesis. Experimental Hematology 2024, 104655. PMID: 39393608, DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2024.104655.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlternative splicingAlternative splicing eventsStem cell maintenanceSplicing factor mutationsHematopoietic stem cell maintenanceExpression of beta-globinField of stem cell researchSplicing eventsSplicing factorsFunctional blood cellsAberrant splicingStudy of hematopoiesisComplex regulationCell maintenanceSplicingCellular differentiationBeta-globinMyelodysplastic syndromeMyeloid malignanciesHematologic malignanciesStem cell researchCell sortingMutationsTranscriptomeAberrant expressionIntegrated genetic, epigenetic, and immune landscape of TP53 mutant AML and higher risk MDS treated with azacitidine
Zeidan A, Bewersdorf J, Hasle V, Shallis R, Thompson E, de Menezes D, Rose S, Boss I, Halene S, Haferlach T, Fox B. Integrated genetic, epigenetic, and immune landscape of TP53 mutant AML and higher risk MDS treated with azacitidine. Therapeutic Advances In Hematology 2024, 15: 20406207241257904. PMID: 38883163, PMCID: PMC11180421, DOI: 10.1177/20406207241257904.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHigher-risk myelodysplastic syndromesAcute myeloid leukemiaBone marrowMutation statusImmune landscapeImmunological landscapeAnti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumabHR-MDS patientsWild-type acute myeloid leukemiaTP53-mutant acute myeloid leukemiaMutant acute myeloid leukemiaAzacitidine-based therapyWild-type patientsImmune checkpoint proteinsImmune checkpoint expressionT cell populationsWild-typeStatistically significant decreaseAZA therapyImmunosuppressive microenvironmentPD-L1Mutant patientsDNA methylation arraysCheckpoint expressionMyelodysplastic syndrome
2022
Prognostic implications of mono-hit and multi-hit TP53 alterations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and higher risk myelodysplastic syndromes treated with azacitidine-based therapy
Zeidan A, Bewersdorf J, Hasle V, Shallis R, Thompson E, de Menezes D, Rose S, Boss I, Halene S, Haferlach T, Fox B. Prognostic implications of mono-hit and multi-hit TP53 alterations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and higher risk myelodysplastic syndromes treated with azacitidine-based therapy. Leukemia 2022, 37: 240-243. PMID: 36437356, DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01766-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Multi-Center Phase Ib Trial of the Histone Deactylase Inhibitor (HDACi) Entinostat in Combination with Anti-PD1 Antibody Pembrolizumab in Patients with Refractory/Relapsed Myelodysplastic Syndromes (RR-MDS) or Oligoblastic Acute Myeloid Leukemia (RR-AML) after Hypomethylating Agent (HMA) Failure
Bewersdorf J, Shallis R, Sharon E, Caldwell A, Wei W, Yacoub A, Madanat Y, Zeidner J, Altman J, Odenike O, Yerrabothala S, Kovacsovics T, Podoltsev N, Halene S, Little R, Piekarz R, Gore S, Kim T, Zeidan A. A Multi-Center Phase Ib Trial of the Histone Deactylase Inhibitor (HDACi) Entinostat in Combination with Anti-PD1 Antibody Pembrolizumab in Patients with Refractory/Relapsed Myelodysplastic Syndromes (RR-MDS) or Oligoblastic Acute Myeloid Leukemia (RR-AML) after Hypomethylating Agent (HMA) Failure. Blood 2022, 140: 9084-9086. DOI: 10.1182/blood-2022-158626.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSelective inhibition of MCL1 overcomes venetoclax resistance in a murine model of myelodysplastic syndromes
Fischer MA, Song Y, Arrate MP, Gbyli R, Villaume MT, Smith BN, Childress MA, Stricker TP, Halene S, Savona MR. Selective inhibition of MCL1 overcomes venetoclax resistance in a murine model of myelodysplastic syndromes. Haematologica 2022, 108: 522-531. PMID: 35979721, PMCID: PMC9890032, DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.280631.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsB-cell lymphoma 2Acute myeloid leukemiaMyeloid cell leukemia-1Myelodysplastic syndromeMDS subtypesHigh-risk myelodysplastic syndromeMCL1 inhibitionRisk myelodysplastic syndromesAnti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma 2Protein B-cell lymphoma 2Effective clinical therapySelective inhibitorMDS patient samplesAttractive therapeutic opportunityBcl-xLExcess blastsOlder patientsClinical trialsMyeloid leukemiaMurine modelImpressive responseSignificant injuryAnti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xLLeukemia survivalLymphoma 2Targeting the EIF2AK1 signaling pathway rescues red blood cell production in SF3B1-mutant myelodysplastic syndromes with ringed sideroblasts
Adema V, Ma F, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Thongon N, Montalban-Bravo G, Yang H, Peslak SA, Wang F, Acha P, Sole F, Lockyer P, Cassari M, Maciejewski JP, Visconte V, Ganan-Gomez I, Song Y, Bueso-Ramos C, Pellegrini M, Tan TM, Bejar R, Carew JS, Halene S, Santini V, Al-Atrash G, Clise-Dwyer K, Garcia-Manero G, Blobel GA, Colla S. Targeting the EIF2AK1 signaling pathway rescues red blood cell production in SF3B1-mutant myelodysplastic syndromes with ringed sideroblasts. Blood Cancer Discovery 2022, 3: 554-567. PMID: 35926182, PMCID: PMC9894566, DOI: 10.1158/2643-3230.bcd-21-0220.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMyelodysplastic syndromeRed blood cell productionSF3B1-mutant myelodysplastic syndromesMDS-RSRinged sideroblastsBlood cell productionSF3B1 mutationsDevelopment of therapiesCell productionRed blood cellsRed blood cell maturationHematologic responseSignificant anemiaTransfusion dependencyIron overloadMDS subtypesElderly populationSide effectsBone marrowCell maturationIssue featurePatientsBlood cellsErythroid precursorsBlood cell maturationDNMT3A R882 Mutations Confer Unique Clinicopathologic Features in MDS Including a High Risk of AML Transformation
Jawad M, Afkhami M, Ding Y, Zhang X, Li P, Young K, Xu ML, Cui W, Zhao Y, Halene S, Al-Kali A, Viswanatha D, Chen D, He R, Zheng G. DNMT3A R882 Mutations Confer Unique Clinicopathologic Features in MDS Including a High Risk of AML Transformation. Frontiers In Oncology 2022, 12: 849376. PMID: 35296003, PMCID: PMC8918526, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.849376.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWorse progression-free survivalProgression-free survivalMyelodysplastic syndromeAML transformationMyeloid neoplasmsMDS casesHigh riskR882 mutationsClonal hematopoiesisIndependent risk factorUnique clinicopathologic featuresTertiary medical institutionsDifferent treatment approachesUnique clinicopathologicExcess blastsSevere leukopeniaClinicopathologic featuresMutant patientsRisk factorsLarge cohortTherapeutic implicationsTreatment approachesClinical implicationsClinical-genomic databaseNeoplasms
2020
Cyclosporine enhances the sensitivity to lenalidomide in MDS/AML in vitro
He X, Dou A, Feng S, Roman-Rivera A, Hawkins C, Lawley L, Zhang J, Wunderlich M, Mizukawa B, Halene S, Patel A, Fang J. Cyclosporine enhances the sensitivity to lenalidomide in MDS/AML in vitro. Experimental Hematology 2020, 86: 21-27.e2. PMID: 32437909, PMCID: PMC7335335, DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2020.05.001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsApoptosisCell Line, TumorCyclosporineDNA-Binding ProteinsDrug Resistance, NeoplasmGene Expression Regulation, LeukemicHumansIkaros Transcription FactorLenalidomideLeukemia, Myeloid, AcuteMiceMice, Inbred NODMuscle ProteinsMyelodysplastic SyndromesNeoplasm ProteinsUp-RegulationXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysConceptsAcute myeloid leukemiaMDS/acute myeloid leukemiaMyelodysplastic syndromeT cell activationAML patient-derived xenograft modelsG protein-coupled receptor 68MDS/AML cellsPatient-derived xenograft modelsMDS/AML cell linesDegradation of IKZF1AML cell linesCell linesActivity of CaNBone marrow cellsMDS patientsPrimary bone marrow cellsHematologic malignanciesMyeloid leukemiaAML cellsLenalidomideXenograft modelDrug AdministrationSuppressive effectProsurvival pathwaysMarrow cells
2015
SRSF2 Mutations Contribute to Myelodysplasia by Mutant-Specific Effects on Exon Recognition
Kim E, Ilagan JO, Liang Y, Daubner GM, Lee S, Ramakrishnan A, Li Y, Chung YR, Micol JB, Murphy ME, Cho H, Kim MK, Zebari AS, Aumann S, Park CY, Buonamici S, Smith PG, Deeg HJ, Lobry C, Aifantis I, Modis Y, Allain F, Halene S, Bradley RK, Abdel-Wahab O. SRSF2 Mutations Contribute to Myelodysplasia by Mutant-Specific Effects on Exon Recognition. Cancer Cell 2015, 27: 617-630. PMID: 25965569, PMCID: PMC4429920, DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2015.04.006.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Evidence-based genomic diagnosis characterized chromosomal and cryptic imbalances in 30 elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia
Bajaj R, Xu F, Xiang B, Wilcox K, DiAdamo AJ, Kumar R, Pietraszkiewicz A, Halene S, Li P. Evidence-based genomic diagnosis characterized chromosomal and cryptic imbalances in 30 elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. Molecular Cytogenetics 2011, 4: 3. PMID: 21251322, PMCID: PMC3031273, DOI: 10.1186/1755-8166-4-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchArray comparative genomic hybridizationCopy number alterationsAcute myeloid leukemiaClonal chromosomal abnormalitiesOligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridizationGene contentBAC clonesEvidence-based approachComparative genomic hybridizationElderly patientsGenomic analysisGenomic contentDerivative chromosome 6Genomic featuresIsodicentric X chromosomeMyelodysplastic syndromeX chromosomeMyeloid leukemiaConclusionsOur dataCytogenomic analysisChromosome 6Clinical validitySegmental amplificationMYC geneClonal abnormalities
2010
Pattern of hypomethylating agents use among elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Wang R, Gross CP, Maggiore RJ, Halene S, Soulos PR, Raza A, Galili N, Ma X. Pattern of hypomethylating agents use among elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. Leukemia Research 2010, 35: 904-908. PMID: 21067809, PMCID: PMC3114277, DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2010.10.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMyelodysplastic syndromePatient characteristicsRefractory anemiaMultivariate logistic regression modelMultiple patient characteristicsPopulation-based studyUse of HMAsLogistic regression modelsElderly patientsExcess blastsMultilineage dysplasiaRefractory cytopeniaMDS patientsPatientsComorbiditiesAnemiaSyndromeHigher chanceRegression modelsHMAsAgentsIntroduction periodCytopeniasDysplasiaCancer
2009
Neighborhood socioeconomic status influences the survival of elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes in the United States
Wang R, Gross CP, Halene S, Ma X. Neighborhood socioeconomic status influences the survival of elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndromes in the United States. Cancer Causes & Control 2009, 20: 1369-1376. PMID: 19455395, PMCID: PMC2921772, DOI: 10.1007/s10552-009-9362-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeighborhood socioeconomic statusMyelodysplastic syndromeSocioeconomic statusElderly patientsHazard ratioMultivariate Cox proportional hazards modelCox proportional hazards modelSurvival of patientsPopulation-based studyRisk of deathRisk of mortalityProportional hazards modelImpact of SESLow socioeconomic statusCensus tractsPrognostic roleMDS patientsIndependent determinantsRefractory anemiaHistological subtypesHazards modelPatientsSES statusTractS scoresComorbidities and survival in a large cohort of patients with newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes
Wang R, Gross CP, Halene S, Ma X. Comorbidities and survival in a large cohort of patients with newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes. Leukemia Research 2009, 33: 1594-1598. PMID: 19324411, PMCID: PMC2749891, DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2009.02.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMyelodysplastic syndromeHazard ratioComorbid conditionsMDS patientsCharlson indexMultivariate Cox proportional hazards modelPrognosis of MDSChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCox proportional hazards modelLarge population-based studyCongestive heart failureObstructive pulmonary diseaseRole of comorbiditiesMedian survival timePopulation-based studyProportional hazards modelMDS survivalHeart failurePulmonary diseaseIndependent determinantsShorter survivalLarge cohortSurvival timeHazards modelComorbidities