Characterisation of bone marrow soluble factors and mesenchymal stem cells in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Abstract

This thesis provides novel insight into the complexity of the bone marrow environment of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or B-ALL, the most common cancer in children. Specifically, my project characterised bone marrow soluble factors during disease development. Furthermore, we identified cellular and molecular changes in leukaemia-associated mesenchymal stem cells. In conclusion, this study provides further understanding of B-ALL biology and has brought us closer to exploiting new therapeutic targets to treat children with leukaemia.