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Leukemia Stem Cells

Sean Morrison, Ph.D. explains differences between cancer stem cells and normal stem cells in leukemia

What makes cancer stem cells different from normal stem cells?

Stem cell identity is determined by a complex mixture of cellular components - all of which are present individually in non-stem cells, too. It's the specific combination that is unique to stem cells. Many scientists believe mutations can transform normal stem cells or progenitor cells into cancer stem cells. The mutations that cause cancer act by enabling cancer stem cells to hijack normal stem cell self-renewal mechanisms and use them to multiply out of control.

Are all leukemias caused by cancer stem cells?

Many types of leukemia develop from cancer stem cells. In these cancers, a small subset of cancer stem cells can continue to grow and expand indefinitely, while most malignant cells divide for a limited period of time and then die.

Updated 3/2011

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