Gene expression profiling of CD34+/CD38- stem cells and CD34+/CD38+ progenitor cells from healthy control samples versus acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

In an attempt to identify novel markers and immunologic targets in leukemic stem cells (LSC) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), we screened samples of patients with AML, CML, and controls for expression of cell surface antigens on CD34+/CD38− and CD34+/CD38+ cells by multi-color flow cytometry. In addition, we examined mRNA expression profiles in highly purified CD34+/CD38− and CD34+/CD38+ cells by gene array- and qPCR analyses. Aberrantly expressed markers were identified in all patient cohorts examined. To define differences in mRNA expression patterns in stem- and progenitor cells from three healthy donors, three patients with AML and three patients with CML, gene array analyses were performed