Project on acute pre-leukemia funded by European Association

The European Haematology Association recently awarded one of its three Research Grants for Medical Scientists to i3S researcher Delfim Duarte. Valued at 240,000 euros and spanning three years, this grant will enable the researcher to investigate the role of iron in the abnormal formation and differentiation of blood cells (clonal haematopoiesis), a process that increases the risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Clonal haematopoiesis is a newly identified condition that affects blood cell production and is linked to ageing and an increased risk of AML, a particularly aggressive form of blood cancer that impacts white blood cells. In this project, Delfim Duarte explains, "we will study the role of inflammation and iron in the formation and differentiation of blood cells and how this contributes to the development of leukaemia." He further elaborates that as we age, "the number of errors in the bone marrow cells responsible for blood cell production rises due to the accumulation of mutations in genes that regulate various cellular processes. These mutated cells expand and function abnormally, thereby increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and the likelihood of developing acute myeloid leukaemia."

According to the i3S researcher and haematologist at IPO-Porto, "multiple studies have shown that these mutated cells exhibit a pro-inflammatory profile, often associated with a protein that regulates systemic iron levels, called hepcidin." Additionally, Delfim Duarte notes that "preliminary data from our research group at i3S (Hematopoiesis and Microenvironments) suggest that this protein and iron levels, in turn, regulate the formation of new blood cells."

In this project, which also involves researchers from the University of Tours in France and the University of Zurich in Switzerland, the team will study patient samples with clonal haematopoiesis as well as mouse models that mimic the human condition.

Delfim Duarte, who is also a visiting assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), states: "We will examine the relationship between inflammation, iron, and the formation of new blood cells, as well as the risk of progression to leukaemia. This study could have significant implications for preventing cardiovascular risks and the development of leukaemia in this population."

Receiving this grant from the European Haematology Association, after a rigorous evaluation process, is "recognition of the strength of our proposal and provides additional motivation," says Duarte. "It also acknowledges the work our team has been doing in this field over the past years." As a physician, he adds, "this grant presents a unique opportunity to explore potential future treatments for patients with haematological conditions in a preclinical setting. This is made possible thanks to the consortium of the Porto Comprehensive Cancer Centre (P.CCC) Raquel Seruca, which includes i3S and IPO-Porto."