Acute myeloid leukemia – Sören Lehmann group

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease with an enormous unmet medical need. We aim to take on the challenges with AML through a translational approach aiming to increase our understanding of the epigenetic dysregulation in AML and develop this knowledge into better treatments and new tools for precision medicine. We integrate epigenetic data with genome wide multiomic data and drug sensitivity data to better understand how AML develops and how treatment should be improved.

Photo of Sören Lehmann's group
Lehmann Group.

The group is part of the Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM).

About our research

A major task for our group is to define how the AML epigenome is dysregulated in AML, how this leads to leukemia transformation and how this can be used for precision medicine and for improving the treatment of the disease. We currently focus on advanced integrated epigenetic analyses describing the higher order of chromatin and we also explore the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in AML.

To understand the epigenetic dysfunctions in AML in a more complex molecular perspective, we explore the interplay between the epigenome with the AML genome, transcriptome, proteome and drug sensitivity using genome wide multiomic characterization in large AML cohorts. We then use gene editing techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 and dCas9 to individually validate molecular features that are most likely to be important for AML transformation and treatment. As AML cell populations are heterogenous we also study cell heterogeneity with a focus on epigenetic changes using several types of in single cell analyses.

We are especially interested in the epigenetic effects behind the synergism between azacytidine and venetoklax and we study this with a combination of epigenetic and proteomics studies. Using larger population-based cohorts, we also study the role of clonal hematopoeisis with focus on mutations in epigenetically regulating genes.

In addition to our epigenetic approach, we have a particular interest in therapy-related AML as well as acute promyelocytic leukemia that we study from an epidemiological as well as a molecular perspective.

Group leader

Profile image

Soren Lehmann

Affiliated to Research

Sören Lehmann is MD and has specialist degrees in hematology and internal medicine. He received his PhD in 2002 at Karolinska Institutet and was post doc at UCLA, Los Angeles in 2005 to 2006. Sören is full professor of hematology at Uppsala University since 2015. The Lehmann Group is situated both at Karolinska Institutet and at Uppsala University.

Sören is member of the steering committees of the Swedish AML Group, the Nordic AML Group and the HOVON International Steering Committee and chair of the Scientific Committee of the Nordic AML Group.

Publications

Selected publications

Funding

  • Swedish Cancer Foundation
  • Swedish Research Council (VR)
  • Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)
  • Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW)
  • The Cancer Society in Stockholm
  • Stockholm County Council (ALF)
  • Lions Foundations
  • Selanders Foundations

Staff and contact

Group leader

All members of the group

Members of Lehmann Group at Uppsala University

Albin Österroos

MD, PhD student

Angelica Gamboa

Post-doc

Marcus Liew Littorin

MD, PhD student

Former members

  • Anne Neddermeyer. PhD student
  • Kingkamon Junkulu, Post-doc
  • Anna Eriksson, Post-doc
  • Linda Arngården, Post-doc
  • Naomi Cook, Post-doc
  • My Björklund, Post-doc
  • Sylvain Marechal, Post-doc
  • Christer Nilsson, MD/PhD student
  • Huthayfa Mujahed, PhD student
  • Ying Qu, PhD student
  • Dina Ali, PhD student
  • Stefan Deneberg, MD/PhD student

Ongoing collaborations

  • Andreas Lennartsson, KI
  • Olli Kallioniemi, KI
  • Janne Lehtiö, KI
  • Pär Nordlund, KI
  • Chung Chau Hon, RIKEN Institute, Japan
  • Seichi Ogawa, University of Kyoto, Japan
  • Ulf Landegren, UU
  • Gunnar Juliusson, University of Lund
  • Martin Höglund, UU
  • Nordic AML Group (Gjertsen, Mönch-Thielgaard, Kontro)