New chronic myeloid leukemia therapy study findings have been reported by scientists at University of Massachusetts, Division of Hematology
February 23rd, 2009
2009 FEB 23 -- Current study results from the report, 'beta-Catenin is essential for survival of leukemic stem cells insensitive to kinase inhibition in mice with BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia,' have been published. According to a study from the United States, "Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) induced by the BCR-ABL oncogene is believed to be developed from leukemic stem cells (LSCs), and we have previously shown in mice that LSCs for CML express the same cell surface markers that are also expressed on normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Although the inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase activity by imatinib is highly effective in treating human Ph(+) CML in chronic phase, it is difficult to achieve molecular remission of the disease, suggesting that LSCs remain in patients."
"In this study, we find that following imatinib treatment, LSCs not only remained but also accumulated increasingly in bone marrow of CML mice. This insensitivity of LSCs to imatinib was not because of the lack of BCR-ABL kinase inhibition by imatinib, and proliferating leukemic cells derived from LSCs were still sensitive to growth inhibition by imatinib. These results identify an LSC survival pathway that is not inhibited by imatinib," wrote Y. Hu and colleagues, University of Massachusetts, Division of Hematology.
The researchers concluded: "Furthermore, we show that beta-catenin in the Wnt signaling pathway is essential for survival and self-renewal of LSCs, providing a new strategy for targeting these cells."
Hu and colleagues published the results of their research in Leukemia (beta-Catenin is essential for survival of leukemic stem cells insensitive to kinase inhibition in mice with BCR-ABL-induced chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia, 2009;23(1):109-16).
For additional information, contact Y. Hu, University of Massachusetts Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Division of Hematology, Worcester, MA 01605 USA..
The publisher of the journal Leukemia can be contacted at: Nature Publishing Group, 345 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1707, USA.
