Cancer stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Since the original description of leukemic stem cells (LSC) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as a rare subpopulation of leukemic cells located in the CD34+/CD38- compartment much has changed. Supported by continuously improving immunodeficient mouse models, LSC were found in cells which were previously thought not to contain any LSC activity. Furthermore, the phenotype of LSCs as well as the phenotype of the offspring they form, were found to be astonishingly variable and dynamic over time, challenging the perception of LSCs as classical stem cells in a static developmental hierarchy. This thesis focusses on the change in perception of LSC in AML regarding their phenotype, development and differentiation and also touches on the subject of clonal evolution and development of AML LSCs.