title: Role of hemopoietic growth factors in the development and suppression of myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Myeloid leukemia development requires the acquisition by a cell of two abnormalities: an abnormal capacity for self-replication; and a capacity for autocrine stimulation, usually involving the known growth factors for granulocyte-macrophage cells. Curiously, in human leukemia, this does not usually result in autonomous growth when assessed in clonal in vitro cultures. Depending on gene programming, in particular in human or murine myeloid leukemias, the hemopoietic growth factors can also suppress the leukemic population by inhibiting the capacity of the leukemic stem cells for self-generation. The regulator showing the highest suppressive activity varies from leukemia to leukemia, with G-CSF. GM-CSF, IL-6, or leukemia-inhibitory factor (LIF) all having high activity on appropriate target cells. Combinations of these regulators are more effective than single agents alone. Analyses of human HL60, U937 and murine M1 leukemic models indicate that the development of morphological maturation in the leukemic cells is not a necessary feature of stem-cell suppression. LIF has an anomalous action on stem-cell self-generation, being highly effective in the suppression of certain myeloid leukemic cell lines, but being necessary to maintain self-generation in normal embryonic cells. This suggests the existence of a common control medium governing self-generation decisions in cells of different lineages, but that the outcome of the decision is determined by the differentiation program operating in different cells. The colony-stimulating factors are being used in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, but the above principles require caution in certain situations.
authors.affiliation: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Metcalf
mesh_terms: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor