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Review
. 2017 Jan 30;16(1):2.
doi: 10.1186/s12943-016-0574-7.

Understanding of leukemic stem cells and their clinical implications

Xuefei Wang  1   2 , Shile Huang  3 , Ji-Long Chen  4   5   6
Affiliations
Review

Understanding of leukemic stem cells and their clinical implications

Xuefei Wang et al. Mol Cancer. .

Abstract

Since leukemic stem cells (LSCs) or cancer stem cells (CSCs) were found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 1997, extensive studies have been contributed to identification and characterization of such cell populations in various tissues. LSCs are now generally recognized as a heterogeneous cell population that possesses the capacities of self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation. It has been shown that LSCs are regulated by critical surface antigens, microenvironment, intrinsic signaling pathways, and novel molecules such as some ncRNAs. To date, significant progress has been made in understanding of LSCs, leading to the development of numerous LSCs-targeted therapies. Moreover, various novel therapeutic agents targeting LSCs are undergoing clinical trials. Here, we review current knowledge of LSCs, and discuss the potential therapies and their challenges that are being tested in clinical trials for evaluation of their effects on leukemias.

Keywords: BM niche; Cancer stem cell; Clinical implications; Leukemia; Leukemic stem cell; Surface markers; ncRNAs.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Involvement of miRNAs and lncRNAs in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. miRNAs and lncRNAs regulate almost every step of development and differentiation of hematopoietic cells during both normal and malignant hematopoiesis. Dysregulation of the ncRNAs (in red color) is associated with transformation of hematopoietic cells
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