PIM1 is a member of the PIM family of proteins which are proto-oncogenes, serine-threonine kinases with increased expression in a variety of malignancies. PIM1 expression appears to be up-regulated by STAT5, and has been found to be over-expressed in primary AML blast samples. In particular, PIM1 has associated with FLT3 mediated leukemogenesis in FLT3-ITD AML. PIM1 expression was noted to be 25-fold higher than in FLT3-ITD samples, as compared to wild type FLT3 (WT) AML samples. The PIM kinases, therefore, represent potential therapeutic targets in AML, particularly in those cases harboring FLT3-ITD mutations. According to one study, the small molecule inhibitor of PIM1, AR00459339, alone and in combination with a FLT3 inhibitor (AR00454200), resulted in significant cytotoxicity in FLT3-ITD cell lines and patient samples that strikingly parallels the effects of FLT3 inhibition. A variety of mutations have been reported throughout PIM1 in various types of malignancy including hematopoietic tumors, but PIM1 mutations appear to be extremely rare in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplasia.

This gene is a known cancer gene.

This gene is a known cancer gene.