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Updated: Nov 9, 2025
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Use of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation to Assess the Origin of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Published on: October 3, 2018
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Stem cell concepts in myelodysplastic syndromes: lessons and challenges
P S Woll1, S E W Jacobsen1,2,3,4
1From the, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Internal Medicine
|April 12, 2021
Summary
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive cancer growth. In myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), rare hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are the primary targets, potentially explaining treatment resistance and relapse.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Cancer Biology
- Stem Cell Research
Background:
- The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis posits that CSCs sustain tumor growth and self-renewal.
- Identifying CSCs is challenging, but research in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) suggests hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are key targets.
- HSCs' inherent self-renewal capacity, combined with specific mutations, drives MDS initiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of HSCs in MDS pathogenesis and treatment resistance.
- To explore the potential of targeting MDS stem cells for improved therapeutic strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mutational fate mapping to trace disease propagation from HSCs.
- Analyzed the persistence of MDS stem cells in patients achieving complete remission.
- Proposed molecular characterization of purified MDS stem cells.
Main Results:
- HSCs are identified as the primary disease-propagating cells in low-intermediate risk MDS.
- MDS stem cells persist post-therapy, indicating resistance mechanisms and potential for relapse.
- Disease propagation may involve progenitor cells upon progression.
Conclusions:
- MDS stem cells possess unique resistance mechanisms contributing to relapse.
- Monitoring MDS stem cells can assess therapy efficacy and predict relapse.
- Further research into MDS stem cells will enable development of targeted therapies.
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