Leukemia stem cells: the root of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Hong Zhou,Rongzhen Xu

doi:10.1007/s13238-015-0143-7

Hong Zhou, Rongzhen Xu

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13238-015-0143-7

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Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by a chromosome translocation that generates the Bcr-Abl oncogene encoding a constitutive kinase activity. Despite remarkable success in controlling CML at chronic phase by Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a significant proportion of CML patients treated with TKIs develop drug resistance due to the inability of TKIs to kill leukemia stem cells (LSCs) that are responsible for initiation, drug resistance, and relapse of CML. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more potent and safer therapies against leukemia stem cells for curing CML. A number of LSC-associated targets and corresponding signaling pathways, including CaMKII-γ, a critical molecular switch for co-activating multiple LSC-associated signaling pathways, have been identified over the past decades and various small inhibitors targeting LSC are also under development. Increasing evidence shows that leukemia stem cells are the root of CML and targeting LSC may offer a curable treatment option for CML patients. This review summarizes the molecular biology of LSC and its-associated targets, and the potential clinical application in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Highlights

It is well established that cancers depend on a small population of “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) for maintaining their uncontrolled growth
Despite remarkable success in controlling Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) at chronic phase by Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), a significant proportion of CML patients treated with TKIs develop drug resistance due to the inability of TKIs to kill leukemia stem cells (LSCs) that are responsible for initiation, drug resistance, and relapse of CML
This review summarizes the molecular biology of LSC and itsassociated targets, and the potential clinical application in chronic myeloid leukemia

Summary

Introduction

It is well established that cancers depend on a small population of “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) for maintaining their uncontrolled growth. Studies have shown that a number of factors, including activation of critical signal transduction pathways, cell cycle alterations, abnormal epigenetic events and aberrant microenvironment from the hematopoietic niche, contribute to the enhanced survival and continued growth of CML stem/progenitor cells.

Results

Conclusion