Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2006-1-23
pubmed:abstractText
Leukemias have traditionally been classified and treated on the basis of phenotypic characteristics, such as morphology and cell-surface markers, and, more recently, cytogenetic aberrations. These classification systems are flawed because they do not take into account cellular function. The leukemia cell population is functionally heterogeneous: it consists of leukemia stem cells (LSC) and mature leukemia cells that differentiate abnormally to varying extents. Like normal hematopoietic stem cells, LSCs are quiescent and have self-renewal and clonogenic capacity. Because they are quiescent, LSCs do not respond to cell cycle-specific cytotoxic agents used to treat leukemia and so contribute to treatment failure. These cells may undergo mutations and epigenetic changes, further leading to drug resistance and relapse. Recent data suggest that mature leukemia cells may acquire LSC characteristics, thereby evading chemotherapeutic treatment and sustaining the disease. Ongoing research is likely to reveal the molecular mechanisms responsible for LSC characteristics and lead to novel strategies for eradicating leukemia.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
1078-0432
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
12
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
340-4
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2006
pubmed:articleTitle
Eradication of leukemia stem cells as a new goal of therapy in leukemia.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. fravandi@mdanderson.org
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review