Cell surface marker phenotypes and gene expression profiles of murine radiation-induced acute myeloid leukemia stem cells are similar to those of common myeloid progenitors.

Radiation exposure induces acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in humans and mice. Recent studies postulated that AML stem cells of spontaneous human AML arise from hematopoietic stem cells. However, other studies support the possibility that short-lived committed progenitors transform into AML stem cells, accompanied by a particular gene mutation.