Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are able to regenerate leukemia after chemotherapy and cause leukemia relapses. LSCs are transformed from the normal blood stem cells by mutations. We found that one of the commonly found mutations NRAS is able to re-program the signaling pathways in normal blood stem cells and chamge them into LSCs. Our studies showed that Nras does this through an unexpected pathway and targeting this pathway may lead to elimination of LSCs to potentially cure leukemia.
Qing Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Location: University of Michigan - Michigan
Proposal: Nras signaling in hematopoietic stem cells and leukemic stem cells
