Issue highlights -May 2012

The paper in this issue by Johnsen et al, Clinical impact of leukemic blast heterogeneity at diagnosis in cytogenetic intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukaemia,’’ deals with an important issue that is central to the role played by persistent leukemic cells in acute myeloid leukemia. Specifically, the heterogeneity of leukemic blasts is thought to have significant relationship to the prognosis of the disease; this is demonstrated by numerous studies recently published in our journal at the cytogenetic and molecular level as well as by documented immunophenotypic variations found in the malignant cells.Johnsen’s paper demon- strates that leukemic cancer stem cells share surface molecules in common with normal stem cells, and both cell types are characterized by high self-renewal and plu- ripotency. The persistence of leukemic cancer stem cells is considered to be essential in the maintenance of acute myeloid leukemia and its relapse. Recent advances in this area focus on the development of new drugs to eradicate leukemic stem cells responsible for sustaining leukemic growth.