Leukaemic stem cells

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a neoplasm originating in early haematopoietic progenitor cells. Each AML clone contains a subpopulation of leukaemic stem cells (LSCs). LSCs have the capacity to repopulate AML in NOD/SCID mice and regrow leukaemia in patients after remission period. LSCs are characterized by CD34+CD38-Lin-CD33+/-CD123+ immunophenotype. The currently available data show that LSCs play a pivotal role in drug resistance. Many studies and clinical trials are being conducted to eradicate LSCs using different forms of target therapy