The leukemic niche has been shown to play an important role in the protection and proliferation of leukemic cells. The micro-environment in the bone marrow can provide nutrients for proliferating leukemic cells and protect the leukemia from chemotherapy. Gene expression and cell signaling in the leukemic niche differ greatly from its healthy counterpart. Several cytokines are differentially expressed and secreted. The role of these cytokines however, remains to be elucidated. Previous and ongoing research suggest the cytokines are not involved in the migration of leukemic cells, but might play a role in the attraction, inhibition and regulation of healthy immune cells. This will be addressed in this research project
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