A research team from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has identified a gene called polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) that can be used as a new therapeutic to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fatal disease caused by TP53 gene mutations.
The research team is led by Professor Anskar Leung Yu-hung, Chair Professor of Hematology, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed. The team pointed out that AML is a blood cancer caused by genetic mutations in bone marrow cells. Its symptoms include fever, abnormal bleeding, and infection. If the patient does not receive timely treatment, it may deteriorate rapidly and could be fatal.
