Leukemic stem cells: a review.

A small subset of cells in a patient with leukemia, termed leukemic stem cells (LSCs) have been shown to be responsible for the proliferation of disease. LSCs are thought to derive from normal hematopoietic stem cells, but are phenotypically distinguishable in that they are CD90(-), CD117(-), and CD123(+). Research in mouse models provides several potential therapeutics to target these cells in human patients. Eliminating LSCs should provide an efficient, potentially curative treatment option for leukemia patients.