Prevention of Leukemic Stem Cells Developing from Hematopoeic Stem Cells by Targetting the Ras/Raf

Leukemia is a cancer of blood cells, specifically white blood cells that are responsible for fighting infection. However, the abnormal cells in leukemia do not function in the same way as normal white blood cells. Leukemia cells continue to grow and divide, eventually crowding out normal blood cells. The end result is that it becomes difficult for the body to fight infections, control bleeding and transport oxygen (Medicine Net, 2015). It is estimated that each year, approximately 30,800 individuals will be diagnosed with leukemia in the United

These cells can grow into many things such as organs, tissues, muscles, or blood. These cells are able to renew themselves through cell division. One of the most unique aspects to these cells are they are able to replenish and repair themselves as long as the person is alive. This can be seen most commonly in red cells of the bone marrow. These cells are continuously repairing and replacing damaged and old cells. Because of stem cells unique ability to renew themselves into new cells, scientist have shown great interest in these cells. Stem cells that are being studied most by scientist are embryotic stem cells, adult stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem

cancer stem cell: current controversies and new insights” National Institutes of Health (995) December 5, 2005]

Hematopoietic stem cells are unspecialized cells that can develop into all types of blood cells, such as white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. These cells can be found in the peripheral blood, unbelicalcord and the bone marrow. There are four different types of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplants. They are autologous transplant, allogeneic transplant, myeloablative transplant, non-myeloablative transplant.

A brief introduction to stem cells; Stem cells are cells that are undifferentiated, or, simply put, a cell that has not yet been given a job, such as cells that create molecules. In recent years, scientists have discovered the potency that stem cells contain, due to their versatility. For example, stem cells could be studied and used to cure a man of liver disease, a child’s handicap, a woman’s breast cancer, etc…, etc…. One may now be asking themselves? “That’s great… then why are so many people against stem cell research? What could possibly be the drawback? “. You see, stem cells are acquired by human embryos, or, in Layman’s Terms, unborn fetuses. Take for

Adult stem cells are not necessarily derived from adult human but merely not from embryos. These stem cells can found in bone marrow, connective tissues, hair follicles, umbilical cords and other areas of the body. It is said that these cells have been used to treat an estimated 11,000 patients in the United States in the past two years alone, and over 70 diseases, including Parkinson’s and diabetes. (Pence, 2009) There have been 0 recorded successful treatments achieved by the use of embryonic stem cells. As well, stem cells from umbilical cord blood have been used to treat 65 diseases such as leukemia, and lymphoma. (Sweat,

Many scientists believe that embryonic stem cell (ESC) research is the key to curing diseases such as cancer and HIV. Stem cells are so important to biomedical research because they are primitive cells that are capable of replicating indefinitely producing a multitude of different types of cells. This means that one of these pre-determined cells has to potential of becoming any range of over two hundred tissues with epithelial cells to blood and

The ability to manipulate the stem cell corresponding to a specific organ/tissue remains important. A type of stem cell that can be manipulated is the embryonic stem cell. These stem cells descend from embryos aging from three to five days (Watt) (Driskell). During earlier stages, scientists describe embryonic stem cells as “blastocysts” which contain over one-hundred and fifty cells (Watt) (Driskell). They duplicate into more cells or transform to any cell located in the body (Watt) (Driskell). This “duplication” allows embryonic stem cells to regenerate and repair diseased tissues. Embryonic stem cells gain importance in cancer treatments—if doctors diagnose patients with leukemia, then during chemotherapy, the doctor can infuse embryonic stem cells into the body. Since the cells are young, they can repair the targeted cell, aiding cancer treatments and the patient. In addition, this technique is used with another type of embryonic stem cell called “pluripotent stem cells”. Pluripotent stem cells originate as inner mast cells (cells

Leukemia Leukemia is a group of blood diseases characterized by cancer of the blood forming tissues. It was discovered in Europe during the XIX century when a group of doctors directed by John Hughes Bennett tested their patients and discovered their elevated number of white blood cells. It was then called “white blood” and later was named leukemia from the words greek words “leukos” (white) and “hemia” (blood). Leukemia is a disfunction of the bone marrow stem that over

Stem cells are cells with the potential to become any type of cell in the body. There are two different types of stem cells: adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells are very valuable and are used mainly to treat blood diseases, but sometimes adult stem cells from the brain are used to treat neurological diseases. Adult stem cells can also be difficult to recognize in the adult body. Embryonic stem cells are more flexible than adult stem cells and can be used for a bigger variety of diseases (California’s Stem Cell Agency,2011). Some people do not believe in the use of embryonic stem cells, because they believe they are killing future life. Despite the controversy over how stem cells are gathered, stem cells have undeniable

The process when stem cells give rise to blood cells, or any other specialized cells, is called differentiation (“Stem Cell Basics”). Stem Cells’ ability of differentiation can be targeted and directed to generate tissue and therefore to cure degenerative diseases (Panno 24-28). However, such medical promise faces the doubts and gives rise to disputes. In fact, federal funds for stem cell research were banned under President Bush’s administration, but the ban was then lifted by President Obama’s administration (Obama). Despite the different arguments, more medical trials should be conducted with embryonic stem cells in order to determine whether the medical promise is applicable or far-fetched.

The type of cancer I chose to write about is called acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is developed through damaged bone marrow and blood cells. Stem cells form blood cells, these stem cells that form white cells start out as cells then generate into blast cells, or also known as lymphoblast. Lymphoblast then produce a cell a type of white blood cell known as lymphocytes. This damaged cell then becomes a leukemic cell and multiples into billions of cells leukemic lymphoblast cells. This then causes the number of healthy blood cells to drastically lower. The origin of the word "acute" comes from the fact that the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones. It also can be called acute lymphocytic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a

Stem cells are important for living organism in many ways. In a blastocyst the inner cells give the entire body of the organism, including cell types and organs such as the heart, lungs, and skin. In adult tissues such as brain, muscle, and bone marrow separated populations of stem cells generate and create replacements for cells that are lost or died through a tear, injury, and disease. Stem cell transplantation allows doctors to give large doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to increase the chance of eliminating blood cancer in the marrow and then restoring normal blood cell production (Gknation

According to the National Institute of Health, “Stem [cells] in tumors cause 1:250,000 cells to be cancer cells”(Goldthwaite). Statistics produced from this study, conducted by the National Institute of Health, prove the danger of cancer cells forming from stem cell therapy. Furthermore, the same study reveals “CSCs [cancer stem cells] arise from stem cells” (Goldthwaite). These discoveries show that if humans use stem cells than cancer stem cells can arise as a result. There is a direct correlation between stem cells and cancer stem cells. Unless stem cell research cease, many humans will develop

“Stem Cell Basics IV.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/4.htm.