Prevention of Leukemic Stem Cells Developing from...

PROJECT TITLE: Prevention of Leukemic Stem Cells developing from Hematopoietic Stem Cells by targeting the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways INVESTIGATOR: Michelle Nguyen (Spring 2014) PROJECT SUMMARY: According to the study done in 2014 by the National Cancer Institute, leukemia is the 11th most common type of cancer (Howlader et al., 2011). This cancer that originate in the bone marrow or other tissues that form blood cells causing them to divide rapidly without any control (Wu, 2012). These leukemia stem cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cells but because of high telomerase activity, the stem cells have the ability to self-renew limitlessly (Heidel, Mar, Armstrong, 2011). As of right now, there are many treatments available such as†¦show more content†¦To confirm the efficiency of the drug, the drugs will administered to NOD/SCID mice with leukemic properties and effects will be monitored. RELEVANCE: The most common form of the blood cancer is the production of white blood cells. This buildup of these white blood cells hinders the body from control bleeding, supplying oxygen to the tissues, removing waste from tissues, and to fight infections. Approximately, someone in the US dies from a blood cancer every ten minutes. Of the blood cancers, leukemia accounts for 33% of the deaths (Siegel, Naishadham, Jemal, 2013). Because the cancer stems from a transformation from healthy hematopoietic stem cells to leukemic stem cells, it would be beneficial to treat the disease with a stem cell therapy. The purpose of this study is to understand the mechanism of how hematopoietic stem cells are turned into leukemia stem cells and be able to prevent the transformation. It will be another step for researchers to find a less invasive method of threating leukemia that is safe for all ages and severity. The understanding of which factors induce the conversion of how HSCs to LSCs and bei ng able to prevent it opens doors to new therapies and treatments and make stem cell transplants more safe and widely available. RESEARCH PLAN: Hypothesis: By understanding the pathways that dictate the mechanism that causes a hematopoietic stem cell to mutate into a leukemic stem cell, an inhibitor/antagonist