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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Sep 26, 2014; 6(4): 473-484
Published online Sep 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i4.473
Published online Sep 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i4.473
Identification and targeting leukemia stem cells: The path to the cure for acute myeloid leukemia
Jianbiao Zhou, Wee-Joo Chng, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore
Wee-Joo Chng, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
Wee-Joo Chng, Department of Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore 119228, Singapore
Author contributions: Zhou J and Chng WJ all reviewed the literature and wrote the manuscript; both authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by National Research Foundation Singapore and the Singapore Ministry of Education under its Research Centres of Excellence initiative, NMRC Clinician-Scientist IRG Grant CNIG11nov38 and NMRC Clinician Scientist Investigator award
Correspondence to: Jianbiao Zhou, MD, PhD, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore. csizjb@nus.edu.sg
Telephone: +65-6-5161118 Fax: +65-6-8739664
Received: July 22, 2014
Revised: August 22, 2014
Accepted: August 30, 2014
Published online: September 26, 2014
Processing time: 64 Days and 21.5 Hours
Revised: August 22, 2014
Accepted: August 30, 2014
Published online: September 26, 2014
Processing time: 64 Days and 21.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) remains an incurable disease in most of cases. Leukemia stem cells (LSC) are a subpopulation of leukemic cells responsible for the continued proliferation and propagation of bulk leukemic cells. Growing evidence support the notion that LSCs are the root source of disease relapse and treatment resistance. Here we review the literature on historical overview of the discovery of LSC, identification and separation of LSC and strategies of targeting LSC as a potential cure for AML.