title: Targeting LSCs through membrane antigens selectively or preferentially expressed on these cells.
abstract: Studies of xenotransplantation of bone marrow and blood cells of AML patients have supported the existence of rare leukemic stem cells, able to initiate and maintain the leukemic process and bearing the typical leukemic abnormalities. LSCs possess self-renewal capacity and are responsible for the growth of the more differentiated leukemic progeny in the bone marrow and in the blood. These cells are more resistant than bulk leukemic cells to anti-leukemic drugs, thus survive to treatment and are, at a large extent, responsible for leukemia relapse. During the last two decades, considerable progresses have been made in the understanding of the peculiar cellular and molecular properties of LSCs. In this context, particularly relevant was the discovery of several membrane markers, selectively or preferentially expressed on LSCs. These membrane markers offer now unique opportunities to identify LSCs and to distinguish them from normal HSCs, to monitor the response of the various anti-leukemic treatments at the level of the LSC compartment, to identify relevant therapeutic targets. Concerning this last point, the most promising therapeutic targets are CD33 and CD123.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Suepriore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Suepriore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Germana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Suepriore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Testa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Leukemia; Leukemic stem cells; Stem cells