Research Projects

Leukemias and lymphomas account for 26.7 to 52.3% of the 45,000 cases reported annually in India, with pediatric leukemias, particularly B-ALL, being the most common. Despite successful treatment, a significant number of high-risk patients still have Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) and a 30-40% relapse rate. Metabolic reprogramming, a major trait of cancer, involves the rewiring of cellular homeostasis by tumor cells to support tumor growth and survival. Fatty acid metabolism, a critical component of this process, is a critical component. Acyl-CoA synthetases could play a significant role in this rewiring, as they direct fatty acids to different metabolic fates within the cell. This study aims to assess and validate the prognostic value of selected genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and their effect on bioenergetic status. Methods include real-time PCR, metabolic flux analysis, ROS, and bioenergetic status assessment. The study will also explore the relevance of differential gene expression of fatty acid metabolism observed in a transcriptomics dataset for prognosis and outcome prediction. The study will also examine the status of enzymes of the fatty acid pathway, such as Acyl CoA synthetases and desaturases, across different tumor samples.