About this Research Topic
Advanced understanding of blood disorders is urgently needed to guide the development of new diagnostic strategies and more effective treatments. Two features emerge as key general elements in leukemogenesis: (1) intra-tumoral heterogeneity, with differential response to treatment in distinct tumor subpopulations, e.g. leukemia stem cells (LSCs) versus bulk leukemic progenitor cells; (2) the pivotal role of tumor microenvironment (TME) in promoting survival, proliferation and chemo-resistance of the leukemic clones. The disparity between the identification and the functional characterization of these hallmarks of leukemia arises from technological limitations, hindering further therapeutic development.
Over the past decades, a variety of advanced laboratory-based techniques [methodologies] have been developed and cross-disciplinary technologies have been adopted enabling us to better characterize the molecular and genetic architecture of the leukemic cell population and its associated TME at single-cell level, offering a high resolution view of the genomic, epigenomic and proteomic landscape.
In this Research Topic, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current progress on the development of these state-of-the-art single cell approaches, highlighting their use to delineate the distinct versus common biological features of acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia. The continued development of innovative technologies in the research laboratory is recognized as a powerful driving force to functionally interrogate the evolutionary course of leukemia and build a multidimensional molecular network and integrated map to depict a full picture of cellular response of leukemic cells and their supporting microenvironment before and after therapy.
This new information will further advance our understanding of disease initiation, progression, and development of resistance. We will be able to develop effective precision strategies to target leukemia cells and the TME in order to achieve higher cure rates and perhaps impact the understanding of other types of cancers.
Accepted article types:
Methods, Mini Review, Original Research, Review, Systematic Review
Sub themes:
• State-of-the-art laboratory methodologies and technologies for single-cell analysis
• New data analysis algorithms, pipelines and In silico toolkits for single-cell analysis
• Innovative experimental methodologies and approaches in genomics and epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics, and intrinsic and extrinsic cell signalling at single-cell level
Over the past decades, a variety of advanced laboratory-based techniques [methodologies] have been developed and cross-disciplinary technologies have been adopted enabling us to better characterize the molecular and genetic architecture of the leukemic cell population and its associated TME at single-cell level, offering a high resolution view of the genomic, epigenomic and proteomic landscape.
In this Research Topic, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current progress on the development of these state-of-the-art single cell approaches, highlighting their use to delineate the distinct versus common biological features of acute myeloid and lymphoblastic leukemia. The continued development of innovative technologies in the research laboratory is recognized as a powerful driving force to functionally interrogate the evolutionary course of leukemia and build a multidimensional molecular network and integrated map to depict a full picture of cellular response of leukemic cells and their supporting microenvironment before and after therapy.
This new information will further advance our understanding of disease initiation, progression, and development of resistance. We will be able to develop effective precision strategies to target leukemia cells and the TME in order to achieve higher cure rates and perhaps impact the understanding of other types of cancers.
Accepted article types:
Methods, Mini Review, Original Research, Review, Systematic Review
Sub themes:
• State-of-the-art laboratory methodologies and technologies for single-cell analysis
• New data analysis algorithms, pipelines and In silico toolkits for single-cell analysis
• Innovative experimental methodologies and approaches in genomics and epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics, and intrinsic and extrinsic cell signalling at single-cell level
Keywords: hematological malignancy, multi-disciplinary approaches, leukemia stem cells, tumor environment, leukemogenesis
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