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Therapies Targeting Leukemic Stem Cells

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Chemotherapy for Leukemia

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Abstract

Despite improvements in the treatment of leukemia, relapse remains a substantial problem. Relapse often results from the persistence of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) that are difficult to eradicate with conventional therapies; therefore, novel therapeutic strategies with the ability to target LSCs are required. In principle, differentiated progenitor cells have no self-renewal ability. However, there is a possibility that LSCs originate from these differentiated progenies when they acquire self-renewal ability. To become LSCs, differentiated leukemic progenitors must have self-renewal ability. Molecules that control self-renewal and proliferation, molecules that regulate the cell cycle and differentiation, molecules that enhance cell survival, molecules constituting the hematopoietic (leukemic) niche that exists in hypoxic environments, and cell surface molecules specific for leukemia are candidates for eradicating LSCs. However, to specifically eliminate LSCs while sparing normal hematopoietic stem cells, the detailed molecular mechanisms and pathophysiology of LSCs need to be clarified by sophisticated gene sequencing technologies and disease models. Many patients with incurable leukemias are eagerly awaiting the benefits of new targeted therapeutics.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported partly by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and nonrestricted Grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Astellas, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.

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  1. Department of Transfusion Medicine & Cell Therapy, Center for Cell and Molecular Therapy, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Taira Maekawa

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  1. University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan

    Takanori Ueda

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Maekawa, T. (2017). Therapies Targeting Leukemic Stem Cells. In: Ueda, T. (eds) Chemotherapy for Leukemia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3332-2_20

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