AG Schemionek

The existence of a malignant stem cell population (cancer stem cells, CSC) was first demonstrated in hematological neoplasms. The good accessibility of these hematopoietic cells made it possible to break down a hierarchical system with cells of different degrees of maturity and the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) at the top. Healthy and malignant hematopoietic stem cells (HSC, Leukemic stem cells, LSC) are capable of both self-renewal and the formation of differentiated cells. They therefore have similar properties, which makes a targeted therapeutic approach difficult.

Both, our own and independent work has shown in the past that the leukemic stem cell population, using the example of CML, persists regardless of its oncogenic stimulus. Our goal is now to identify those mechanisms that mediate the resistance of malignant stem cells. Myeloproliferative neoplasias (MPN, focus: chronic myeloid leukemia, CML), but also acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and multiple myeloma are used as model diseases. As part of the translational project aspects, we then evaluate a potential therapeutic effect mediated by, for example, therapeutic antibodies or small molecule inhibitors, using various cellular as well as more complex model systems.

This work is financially supported by