Heuzin Hwai Lim

• BSc (Hons) Pharmacology
• An investigation and review of a genetic aberration found in Newcastle patients

Rearrangements involving the oncogene MYC typically occur in cancers affecting the blood and bone marrow such as leukaemia and lymphoma. The cells involved tend to be mature B cells, but occasionally we see these rearrangements in immature B cells. The latter situation creates ongoing discussion with regards to selection of the most appropriate treatment.

We have identified a minimum of 33 patients with an immature form of leukaemia that also have involvement of MYC based on analysis of the patients’ chromosomes alone. In seven patients we have confirmed MYC involvement using fluorescent DNA probes. We aim to genetically characterise all 33 patients and collect clinical and outcome data to provide detailed insight to this subgroup of patients. 

Project Supervisor: Dr Frederik W van Delft, Northern Institute for Cancer Research

Funding Source: Newcastle University