Selective depletion of a minor subpopulation of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells is followed by a delayed but progressive loss of bulk tumor cells and disease regression

Aaron E. Foster, Fatma V. Okur, Ettore Biagi, An Lu, Gianpietro Dotti, Eric Yvon, Barbara Savoldo, George Carrum, Michael Andreeff, Margaret A. Goodell, Helen E. Heslop, Malcolm K. Brenner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cancer precursor/progenitor cells may initiate and sustain the growth of tumors, but evidence for their existence in human disease is indirect, relying on their it in vitro it properties and animal models. More directly, specific elimination of these rare cells from cancer patients should produce a delayed but progressive disappearance of differentiated malignant progeny. Here, we describe selective eradication of a putative precursor population in a patient with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, followed 6 months later by a progressive loss of mature tumor cells without further treatment. This outcome supports the presence of a rare population of precursor/progenitor cells in human malignancies, and suggests benefit from their removal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number106
JournalMolecular Cancer
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 18 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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