# The Impact of CD82 Expression on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Chemosensitivity and Disease Relapse

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2020 · $17,302

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients respond favorably to induction chemotherapy treatment, however due
to a high rate of minimal residual disease, a significant majority patients fatally relapse. The interactions
between AML cells and the bone marrow microenvironment are critical for AML disease progression and
relapse. The bone marrow niche can provide a protective environment for leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and is
often the primary site for minimal residual disease after chemotherapy. Therefore, in order to improve long-
term patient outcomes it is critical to expand our focus to the development of therapies that are specifically
directed towards the AML cell population that is residing within the bone marrow. The objective of our
proposed work is to elucidate how the membrane-scaffold protein, CD82, modulates AML response to
chemotherapy and promotes minimal residual disease. We hypothesize that CD82 expression, which is
increased in the LSC population, in AML cells promotes chemoresistance and AML/bone marrow interactions
contributing to minimal residual disease. In Specific Aim 1, we will identify the impact of CD82 expression on
AML chemosensitivity and survival signaling using a combination of engineered human cell lines and primary
patient samples. For Specific Aim 2, we will evaluate how CD82 expression contributes to the quiescent state
of AML cells in the bone marrow, specific niche localization within the bone and the impact on minimal residual
disease. This contribution is significant because! we expect to identify novel mechanisms that can be targeted
to disrupt AML interactions with the bone marrow microenvironment. Moreover, this proposal is innovative
because it will apply a combinatorial experimental approach to investigate the chemoresistant population of
AML. By utilizing genetically engineered cell lines, mouse models, and primary patient samples, we will
integrate biochemical, molecular and morphological information to acquire a multi-scale understanding of how
CD82 modulates AML/niche interactions that promote chemoresistance, quiescence and minimal residual
disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9928012
- **Project number:** 5F31CA232480-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Muskan Floren
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $17,302
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-02 → 2020-12-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9928012

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9928012, The Impact of CD82 Expression on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Chemosensitivity and Disease Relapse (5F31CA232480-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9928012. Licensed CC0.

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