Study Reveals How Leukemia Cells Enter and Damage Lungs
Early steroid treatment improves respiratory function in acute myeloid leukemia patients with lung infiltration, and targeting galectin‑9 or IL‑33 signaling reduces leukemic lung infiltration.
Researchers at NYU Langone have elucidated how acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells infiltrate lung tissue, triggering fibrosis and respiratory failure. Using mouse lung slices and human AML lung biopsies, the study identified that AML cells cross alveolar walls, remodel stroma by expanding fibroblasts, and alter immune cell composition. Key drivers of inflammation were galectin‑9 and interleukin‑33 (IL‑33) receptor pathways. Blocking either pathway halted AML infiltration in preclinical models. Clinically, steroid (prednisone) therapy markedly improved breathing within 12 h in all patients with lung infiltration, supporting a guideline shift. A phase‑1 trial (NCT05829226) is testing a galectin‑9‑targeting antibody.
Respiratory failure is a leading early complication in AML, often fatal. Demonstrating that steroids rapidly restore breathing and revealing novel drug targets offers a path to timely, evidence‑based treatment and improved survival.
Evidence level: Klinikai vizsgálat. Formális klinikai vizsgálati eredmény.
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