Leukemia Cell Biology Group Researchgroup

Leukemias are malignant hematological diseases characterized by the accumulation of pathological myeloid or lymphoid cells. Our group investigates the cell surface and intracellular antigen characteristics of leukemic blasts and cells of premalignant states (PNH and MDS). 1. We have described the presence of blood coagulation factor XIII subunit A in AML M4/M5 blasts and characterized the same phenomenon as leukemia associated immunophenotype (LAIP) in B precursor ALL and acute promyelocytic leukemia as well. 2. Several types of drug resistance mechanisms have been identified in acute leukemias, including the presence of the multidrug resistance proteins: MDR1 or P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) seem to be the most frequent and best-characterized causes of therapy failure. 3. In collaboration with the the Department of Hematology and the B-A-Z County Hospital Department of Pediatric Onco-Hematology and the Department of Hematology we perform multicolor flow cytometry analysis and detection of cancer stem cells (CSCs) with the aldehyde dehydrogenase kit (CD34+/CD38-/ALDHhigh+). 4. In collaboration with the cytogenetic laboratory we would like to investigate correlation between cytogenetic aberrations and immunophenotypic profiles of acute leukemias (ALL, AML) and other hematological malignancies. The Leukemia Cell Biology Group utilizes mostly flow cytometric, Western-blot and ELISA techniques, G-banded chromosome analysis, FISH, multicolor FISH, but we have access to confocal laser scanning microscopic capability as well.