Leukemic cells from a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) had high natural killer (NK) activity against K562 as determined by the 51Cr release assay at a 40:1 effector:target ratio: percent lysis was 76.8% (147.4% of normal lymphocyte value) and higher than that of control leukemic cells from 12 childhood ALL (0.1% ± 0.3%). Two leukemic cell lines (SPI-801 and SPI-802) were establishe...

To determine what the role of RAS oncogene is in radiation-induced leukemia, we investigated the frequency of mutations and the sites of the base substitution of activated N- and K-RAS oncogenes in 25 leukemic patients who had been exposed to the atomic bomb and compared the results with those for 47 non-exposed leukemic patients. To detect the presence of mutated RAS oncogene, we used the PCR ...

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in acute leukemia, the mechanisms of leukemic cell infiltration into the CNS have not yet been elucidated. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes CNS become a refugee to leukemic cells and serves as a resource of cells that seed extraneural sites. How can the leukemic cells disrupt this barrier and invas...

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) directly interacts with B integrins and phosphorylates Akt in a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)–dependent manner. In this study, we examined the functional role of ILK activation in leukemic and bone marrow stromal cells on their direct contact. Coculture of leukemic NB4 cells with bone marrow–derived stromal mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) resulted in robust acti...

Abstract Background: In addition to child, families can be influenced traumatically by the leukemia and hospitalization. Adopting the philosophy of a family-centered care approach can maximize the well being of pediatric patients and their family. The philosophy is based on the collaboration of the family, nurses and hospital staff to plan, provide and evaluate care to establish the bes...

Differentiation of mouse and human myeloid leukemic cells in vitro can be induced by some members of the granulocytemacrophage family of colony-stimulating factors. In the mouse, the most active molecule (G-CSF) is able to suppress leukemic stem cell self-generation in an irreversible, asymmetric process, suggesting that the factor permanently modifies newly synthesized one or more daughter chr...

BACKGROUND CD33 is a well-known stem cell target in acute myeloid leukemia. So far, however, little is known about expression of CD33 on leukemic stem cells in chronic leukemias. DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed expression of CD33 in leukemic progenitors in chronic myeloid leukemia by multi-color flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the effects of a CD33-targe...

BACKGROUND Pure curcumin has been reported to down-regulate the expression of WT1 in leukemic cells. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the down-regulation of WT1 by curcumin is not completely delineated. The purpose of this present study is to identify a new miRNA-mediated mechanism which plays an important role in the anti-proliferation effects of curcumin in leukemic cells. METHOD...