The state of the stem cell determines the type of leukemia

In Cell Stem Cell, a study led by Dr. Alejo Rodríguez-Fraticelli has revealed that identical cancer-driving mutations give rise to very different types of leukaemia depending on the pre-existing state of the blood stem cell in which they occur. The researchers have shown that intrinsic cellular properties, such as responsiveness to inflammatory signals, determine how mutated cells behave, explaining why patients with the same mutations can develop distinct disease trajectories.

The research has demonstrated that different stem cell states give rise to leukaemias with divergent biological and clinical features. By using the STRACK lineage-tracing technique, the study provides a framework for understanding how cellular context shapes tumour identity, and paves the way for new therapies that integrate both genetic and epigenetic determinants of cancer.

More information: New technique reveals how the same mutations give rise to very different types of leukaemia