Concise review: Preleukemic stem cells: Molecular biology and clinical implications of the Precursors to leukemia stem cells

Ashley Pandolfi, Laura Barreyro, Ulrich Steidl

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent experimental evidence has shown that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) arise from transformed immature hematopoietic cells following the accumulation of multiple stepwise genetic and epigenetic changes in hematopoietic stem cells and committed progenitors. The series of transforming events initially gives rise to preleukemic stem cells (pre-LSC), preceding the formation of fully transformed leukemia stem cells (LSC). Despite the established use of poly-chemotherapy, relapse continues to be the most common cause of death in AML and MDS. The therapeutic elimination of all LSC, as well as pre-LSC, which provide a silent reservoir for the re-formation of LSC, will be essential for achieving lasting cures. Conventional sequencing and nextgeneration genome sequencing have allowed us to describe many of the recurrent mutations in the bulk cell populations in AML and MDS, and recent work has also focused on identifying the initial molecular changes contributing to leukemogenesis. Here we review recent and ongoing advances in understanding the roles of pre-LSC, and the aberrations that lead to pre-LSC formation and subsequent LSC transformation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)143-150
Number of pages8
JournalStem Cells Translational Medicine
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Acute myelogenous leukemia
  • Cancer stem cells
  • Hematopoietic stem cells
  • Stem/progenitor cell

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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