By DoM Communications | Date published: May 20, 2026
Shyam Patel, David Cachia, and Matthew McGuiness Study Impact of Therapy-Related CHIP On Risk for Overt Leukemia
Shyam Patel, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, David Cachia, MD, professor of medicine, both in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, and Matthew McGuiness, MD, MEd, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, recently published a study in the American Journal of Hematology regarding the impact of therapy-related CHIP on the risk for overt leukemia. CHIP is the precursor state of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CHIP is known to arise from the aging hematopoietic compartment, and more than 10% of adults above age 70 harbor pre-leukemic clones within the peripheral blood. One of the other major risk factors for CHIP is the receipt of prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immune intervention, as these exposures can contribute to the selective outgrowth of mutant blood cells.
In this study, the team performed a comprehensive assessment of patients with CHIP seen at UMass and characterized the genomics of therapy-related CHIP (compared to de novo or age-related CHIP). They identified four genes that conferred significantly heightened risk for progression from therapy-related CHIP to overt myeloid neoplasm.
In the coming months, Dr. Patel aims to engage UMass trainees and faculty across other divisions within the Department of Medicine, particularly the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, in upcoming research efforts to help establish UMass as the destination center for the management of precursor conditions.