Case, M., Matheson, E., Minto, L., Hassan, R., Harrison, C.J., Bown, N., Bailey, S., Vormoor, J., Hall, A.G. and Irving, J.A.E.
Notes: The authors of this study investigated the relationship of somatic mutations that deregulate the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and its progression to relapse in some patients. They show that such mutations are common in ALL and its recurrence. Furthermore, lymphoblasts from patients with mutations that were associated with upregulation of ERK showed increased cytotoxicity over wild-type controls when treated with U0126, suggesting that specific ERK inhibitors may eventually yield useful therapeutics. Following drug exposure, cytotoxic effects were assessed using the CellTiter 96® AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay. (3905)