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Cobaleda C, Sánchez-García I. Childhood leukemia prevention within reach. Blood 2024; 144:799-800. [PMID: 39172445 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2024025622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
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Cobaleda C, Godley LA, Nichols KE, Wlodarski MW, Sanchez-Garcia I. Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Genetic Predisposition to Hematopoietic Malignancies: The Importance of Gene-Environment Interactions. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:396-405. [PMID: 38426560 PMCID: PMC10913756 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-1091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
SUMMARY The recognition of host genetic factors underlying susceptibility to hematopoietic malignancies has increased greatly over the last decade. Historically, germline predisposition was thought to primarily affect the young. However, emerging data indicate that hematopoietic malignancies that develop in people of all ages across the human lifespan can derive from germline predisposing conditions and are not exclusively observed in younger individuals. The age at which hematopoietic malignancies manifest appears to correlate with distinct underlying biological pathways. Progression from having a deleterious germline variant to being diagnosed with overt malignancy involves complex, multistep gene-environment interactions with key external triggers, such as infection and inflammatory stimuli, driving clonal progression. Understanding the mechanisms by which predisposed clones transform under specific pressures may reveal strategies to better treat and even prevent hematopoietic malignancies from occurring.Recent unbiased genome-wide sequencing studies of children and adults with hematopoietic malignancies have revealed novel genes in which disease-causing variants are of germline origin. This paradigm shift is spearheaded by findings in myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) as well as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but it also encompasses other cancer types. Although not without challenges, the field of genetic cancer predisposition is advancing quickly, and a better understanding of the genetic basis of hematopoietic malignancies risk affects therapeutic decisions as well as genetic counseling and testing of at-risk family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Cobaleda
- Immune System Development and Function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CBM, CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucy A. Godley
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kim E. Nichols
- Division of Cancer Predisposition, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Marcin W. Wlodarski
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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3
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Casado-García A, Isidro-Hernández M, Alemán-Arteaga S, Ruiz-Corzo B, Riesco S, Prieto-Matos P, Sánchez L, Sánchez-García I, Vicente-Dueñas C. Lessons from mouse models in the impact of risk factors on the genesis of childhood B-cell leukemia. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1285743. [PMID: 37901253 PMCID: PMC10602728 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1285743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) stands as the primary contributor to childhood cancer-related mortality on a global scale. The development of the most conventional forms of this disease has been proposed to be conducted by two different steps influenced by different types of risk factors. The first step is led by a genetic insult that is presumably acquired before birth that transforms a healthy cell into a preleukemic one, which is maintained untransformed until the second step takes place. This necessary next step to leukemia development will be triggered by different risk factors to which children are exposed after birth. Murine models that recap the stepwise progression of B-ALL have been instrumental in identifying environmental and genetic factors that contribute to disease risk. Recent evidence from these models has demonstrated that specific environmental risk factors, such as common infections or gut microbiome dysbiosis, induce immune stress, driving the transformation of preleukemic cells, and harboring genetic alterations, into fully transformed leukemic cells. Such models serve as valuable tools for investigating the mechanisms underlying preleukemic events and can aid in the development of preventive approaches for leukemia in child. Here, we discuss the existing knowledge, learned from mouse models, of the impact of genetic and environmental risk factors on childhood B-ALL evolution and how B-ALL prevention could be reached by interfering with preleukemic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Casado-García
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marta Isidro-Hernández
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Silvia Alemán-Arteaga
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Belén Ruiz-Corzo
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Susana Riesco
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pablo Prieto-Matos
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Lucía Sánchez
- School of Law, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Isidro Sánchez-García
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carolina Vicente-Dueñas
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
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4
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Korzhenevich J, Janowska I, van der Burg M, Rizzi M. Human and mouse early B cell development: So similar but so different. Immunol Lett 2023; 261:1-12. [PMID: 37442242 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Early B cell development in the bone marrow ensures the replenishment of the peripheral B cell pool. Immature B cells continuously develop from hematopoietic stem cells, in a process guided by an intricate network of transcription factors as well as chemokine and cytokine signals. Humans and mice possess somewhat similar regulatory mechanisms of B lymphopoiesis. The continuous discovery of monogenetic defects that impact early B cell development in humans substantiates the similarities and differences with B cell development in mice. These differences become relevant when targeted therapeutic approaches are used in patients; therefore, predicting potential immunological adverse events is crucial. In this review, we have provided a phenotypical classification of human and murine early progenitors and B cell stages, based on surface and intracellular protein expression. Further, we have critically compared the role of key transcription factors (Ikaros, E2A, EBF1, PAX5, and Aiolos) and chemo- or cytokine signals (FLT3, c-kit, IL-7R, and CXCR4) during homeostatic and aberrant B lymphopoiesis in both humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakov Korzhenevich
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iga Janowska
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Freiburg University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Mirjam van der Burg
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Rizzi
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria; Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Freiburg University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany; CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
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5
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Isidro-Hernández M, Casado-García A, Oak N, Alemán-Arteaga S, Ruiz-Corzo B, Martínez-Cano J, Mayado A, Sánchez EG, Blanco O, Gaspar ML, Orfao A, Alonso-López D, De Las Rivas J, Riesco S, Prieto-Matos P, González-Murillo Á, Criado FJG, Cenador MBG, Ramírez-Orellana M, de Andrés B, Vicente-Dueñas C, Cobaleda C, Nichols KE, Sánchez-García I. Immune stress suppresses innate immune signaling in preleukemic precursor B-cells to provoke leukemia in predisposed mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5159. [PMID: 37620322 PMCID: PMC10449887 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40961-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The initial steps of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) development usually pass unnoticed in children. Several preclinical studies have shown that exposure to immune stressors triggers the transformation of preleukemic B cells to full-blown B-ALL, but how this takes place is still a longstanding and unsolved challenge. Here we show that dysregulation of innate immunity plays a driving role in the clonal evolution of pre-malignant Pax5+/- B-cell precursors toward leukemia. Transcriptional profiling reveals that Myd88 is downregulated in immune-stressed pre-malignant B-cell precursors and in leukemic cells. Genetic reduction of Myd88 expression leads to a significant increase in leukemia incidence in Pax5+/-Myd88+/- mice through an inflammation-dependent mechanism. Early induction of Myd88-independent Toll-like receptor 3 signaling results in a significant delay of leukemia development in Pax5+/- mice. Altogether, these findings identify a role for innate immunity dysregulation in leukemia, with important implications for understanding and therapeutic targeting of the preleukemic state in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Isidro-Hernández
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-USAL, Campus M. de Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ana Casado-García
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-USAL, Campus M. de Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ninad Oak
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Silvia Alemán-Arteaga
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-USAL, Campus M. de Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Belén Ruiz-Corzo
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-USAL, Campus M. de Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jorge Martínez-Cano
- Immune system development and function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas -Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Mayado
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Servicio de Citometría, Departamento de Medicina, Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Cancer CIBER-CIBERONC (CB16/12/00400), Institute of Health Carlos III, and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Elena G Sánchez
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Oscar Blanco
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Ma Luisa Gaspar
- Immunobiology Department, Carlos III Health Institute, 28220, Majadahonda (Madrid), Spain
| | - Alberto Orfao
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Servicio de Citometría, Departamento de Medicina, Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Cancer CIBER-CIBERONC (CB16/12/00400), Institute of Health Carlos III, and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Diego Alonso-López
- Bioinformatics Unit, Cancer Research Center (CSIC-USAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier De Las Rivas
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics Research Group, Cancer Research Center (CSIC-USAL), Salamanca, Spain
| | - Susana Riesco
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Pablo Prieto-Matos
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - África González-Murillo
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier García Criado
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Cirugía, , Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - María Begoña García Cenador
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Cirugía, , Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Ramírez-Orellana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén de Andrés
- Immunobiology Department, Carlos III Health Institute, 28220, Majadahonda (Madrid), Spain
| | - Carolina Vicente-Dueñas
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, Salamanca, 37007, Spain.
| | - César Cobaleda
- Immune system development and function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas -Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Kim E Nichols
- Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Isidro Sánchez-García
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-USAL, Campus M. de Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain.
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain.
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Proof-of-principle: targeted childhood leukemia prevention. Oncotarget 2023; 14:190-192. [PMID: 36913308 PMCID: PMC10010625 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
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Qin R, Wang T, He W, Wei W, Liu S, Gao M, Huang Z. Jak2/STAT6/c-Myc pathway is vital to the pathogenicity of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia caused by P190 BCR-ABL. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:27. [PMID: 36721266 PMCID: PMC9887777 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01039-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Philadelphia chromosome encodes the BCR-ABL fusion protein, which has two primary subtypes, P210 and P190. P210 and P190 cause Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) and Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL), respectively. The Ph+ ALL is more malignant than Ph+ CML in disease phenotype and progression. This implies the key pathogenic molecules and regulatory mechanisms caused by BCR-ABL in two types of leukemia are different. It is reported that STAT6 was significantly activated only in P190 transformed cells. However, the potential role and the mechanism of STAT6 activation in Ph+ ALL and its activation mechanism by P190 are still unknown. METHODS The protein and mRNA levels of STAT6, c-Myc, and other molecules were measured by western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. The STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499 was used to specifically inhibit p-STAT6. The effect of p-STAT6 inhibition on Ph+ CML and Ph+ ALL cells was identified by CCK-8 and FCM assay. Dual luciferase reporter and ChIP assay were performed to confirm the direct binding between STAT6 and c-Myc. The impact of STAT6 inhibition on tumor progression was detected in Ph+ CML and Ph+ ALL mouse models. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that P210 induced CML-like disease, and P190 caused the more malignant ALL-like disease in mouse models. STAT6 was activated in P190 cell lines but not in P210 cell lines. Inhibition of STAT6 suppressed the malignancy of Ph+ ALL in vitro and in vivo, whereas it had little effect on Ph+ CML. We confirmed that p-STAT6 regulated the transcription of c-Myc, and STAT6 was phosphorylated by p-Jak2 in P190 cell lines, which accounted for the discrepant expression of p-STAT6 in P190 and P210 cell lines. STAT6 inhibition synergized with imatinib in Ph+ ALL cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that STAT6 activation plays an essential role in the development of Ph+ ALL and may be a potential therapeutic target in Ph+ ALL. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Qin
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated By the Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Hematology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Teng Wang
- grid.412461.40000 0004 9334 6536Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei He
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated By the Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Hematology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Wei
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated By the Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Hematology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Suotian Liu
- grid.203458.80000 0000 8653 0555Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated By the Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Hematology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Miao Gao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1, Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Zhenglan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated By the Ministry of Education, Department of Clinical Hematology, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Cobaleda C, Vicente-Dueñas C, Ramírez-Orellana M, Sanchez-Garcia I. Revisiting the concept of childhood preleukemia. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:887-889. [PMID: 35871053 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Preleukemic has been used to describe children with a propensity to develop B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). However, leukemia-predisposing mutations can also be present in differentiated cells unable to transform. We postulate that preleukemia should only be used when such mutations arise in progenitors capable of evolving to B-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Cobaleda
- Immune system development and function Unit, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC -Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Manuel Ramírez-Orellana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), Salamanca, Spain; Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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Childhood B-Cell Preleukemia Mouse Modeling. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147562. [PMID: 35886910 PMCID: PMC9317949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Leukemia is the most usual childhood cancer, and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is its most common presentation. It has been proposed that pediatric leukemogenesis occurs through a “multi-step” or “multi-hit” mechanism that includes both in utero and postnatal steps. Many childhood leukemia-initiating events, such as chromosomal translocations, originate in utero, and studies so far suggest that these “first-hits” occur at a far higher frequency than the incidence of childhood leukemia itself. The reason why only a small percentage of the children born with such preleukemic “hits” will develop full-blown leukemia is still a mystery. In order to better understand childhood leukemia, mouse modeling is essential, but only if the multistage process of leukemia can be recapitulated in the model. Therefore, mouse models naturally reproducing the “multi-step” process of childhood B-ALL will be essential to identify environmental or other factors that are directly linked to increased risk of disease.
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