CD123 as a Therapeutic Target Against Malignant Stem Cells

Hematopoiesis is a tightly regulated process that originates from highly specialized cells, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Many cancers can arise and be maintained by malignant stem cells. In acute myeloid leukemia, leukemic stem cells (LSCs) are identified by their immunophenotype, which is partly shared with normal HSCs (CD34(+) CD38(-)). However, LSCs also possess unique immunophenotypic features that can be used to distinguish them from HSCs and therapeutically target them. One such unique immunophenotypic marker is CD123, found to be aberrantly expressed in leukemic stem, progenitor, and blast cells. Thus, CD123 is sought as an attractive target to eliminate LSCs.