dr. Maaike Van Trimpont (PhD)

My research aims to uncover metabolic and transcriptional vulnerabilities in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) to improve treatment outcomes for high-risk patients.

• Amino Acid Metabolism and Asparaginase Response
  Asparaginase depletes extracellular asparagine, exploiting the metabolic dependency of leukemic cells. However, resistance and toxicity remain major challenges. We study how leukemic cells respond to amino acid deprivation, with a focus on asparagine and glutamine metabolism, nutrient-sensing pathways, and stress responses. Our goal is to identify biomarkers of asparaginase sensitivity and explore combination strategies that enhance efficacy and overcome resistance.

• Role of IKZF1 (Ikaros) in Leukemia Self-Renewal
  Loss of the transcription factor IKZF1 is associated with poor prognosis in ALL, particularly in early T-cell precursor ALL (ETP-ALL). We investigate how IKZF1 loss drives self-renewal, blocks differentiation, and contributes to therapy resistance. Through genomics and functional studies, we aim to uncover novel vulnerabilities in IKZF1-deficient leukemia that can be targeted therapeutically.

Together, these projects combine metabolic and transcriptional insights to support the development of more precise therapies for aggressive forms of leukemia.

• Epigenetic Rewiring of Protein Kinase Signalling in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Kinases Phosphatases. 2025.
• CCR1 inhibition sensitizes multiple myeloma cells to glucocorticoid therapy. Pharmacol Res. 2025. (PMID: 40132675)
• A human-like glutaminase-free asparaginase is highly efficacious in ASNSlow leukemia and solid cancer mouse xenograft models. Cancer Lett. 2024. (PMID: 39709177)
• In vivo stabilization of a less toxic asparaginase variant leads to a durable anti-tumor response in acute leukemia. Haematologica. 2022. (PMID: 35979719)
• Novel Insights on the Use of L-Asparaginase as an Efficient and Safe Anti-Cancer Therapy. Cancers. 2022. (PMID: 35205650)
• Cell-penetrating Alphabody protein scaffolds for intracellular drug targeting. Sci Adv. 2021. (PMID: 33771865)
• The spleen as a sanctuary site for residual leukemic cells following ABT-199 monotherapy in ETP-ALL. Blood Adv. 2021. (PMID: 33830207)
   

• Unit for Translational Research in Oncology (UTRiO), Department of Diagnostic Sciences (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UGent), Medical Research Building 2 (entrance 38, 1st Floor, room 110.063), Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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