Researchers at Stanford University have uncovered a link between high levels of active cancer stem cells and poor patient prognosis in leukemia sufferers. Their landmark findings mean that work can now begin on tailoring treatment to target the cancer stem cells in these patients.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, examined more than 1,000 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, the most aggressive form of blood cancer. Samples of their tumours showed a strong correlation between increased levels of active cancer stem cells and the likelihood of a poor prognosis or relapse.
The cancer stem cells show similarities to regular blood stem cells, which suggests that they are capable of self-replication but do so only when necessary. Current cancer treatments are targeted at rapidly dividing cells, so they may not be attacking the cancer stem cells.
"It’s as if these cells are lurking in the background, waiting to pounce after chemotherapy has wiped out most of the other cells," explained Ash Alizadeh, one of the senior authors of the study.