Bcl2 is not required for the development and maintenance of leukemia stem cells in mice

The existence of leukemia stem cells (LSCs) responsible for tumor maintenance has been firmly established. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of these LSCs may have a profound impact on cancer eradication. The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 has been proposed as a therapeutic target, but its role in LSC biology has not been investigated. In order to understand the role of Bcl2 in LSC generation and maintenance, we have taken advantage of our Sca1-BCRABLp210 mouse model of human chronic myeloid leukemia and bcl2 gene-targeted mice. This study provides genetic evidence that the inhibition of Bcl2 is not critical for the generation, selection or maintenance of the tumor initiating and maintaining cells in mice.
Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional to I.S.G. group; Ministerio de Ciencia e innovación (SAF2009-08803) I.S.G. group; Junta de Castilla y León (CSI13A08, proyecto Biomedicina 2009–2010); Ministerio de Educación y Cicencia-MEC OncoBIO Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (Ref. CSD2007-0017); National Institutes of Health (2R01 CA109335-04A1); Sandra Ibarra Foundation; Group of Excellence Grant (GR15), Junta de Castilla y Leon. Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional to C.C.; Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI080164), Junta de Castilla y León (SA060A09, proyecto Biomedicina 2009–2010); Fundación de Investigación Médica MM.