Motility of leukemia cells prevents the recurrence of disease in the central nervous system.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood is a curable disease. However, in some patients relapse occurs in the central nervous system (CNS). It is suggested that active motility of malignant lymphoblasts prevents CNS-relapse, because motile cells will be able to re-enter the bloodstream and so become subject to chemotherapy. Immotile lymphoblasts on the other hand, remain behind the blood brain barrier, escape chemotherapy and eventually give rise to CNS-relapse of leukemia.
D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary*; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis