| Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are stratified by predictive factors including ALL-type and subsequent risk-adapted therapy is directed towards eradication of leukemic cells. This Vici-proposal challenges both dogmas of classification by ALL-type and killing of ALL cells only. Leukemia-predictive genes with proven functional role in leukemic cell biology may be complementary to or- better discriminative markers than those currently used to stratify patients. In addition, knowledge of factors produced by patients mesenchymal cells (MSCs) may have additive diagnostic and therapeutic value. |
