ABCB1 Modulation Does Not Circumvent Drug Extrusion from Primitive Leukemic Progenitor Cells and May Preferentially Target Residual Normal Cells in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Abstract

ABCB1-mediated drug extrusion is reduced in leukemic CD34+ CD38- progenitor cells compared with their residual normal counterparts. Redundant drug transport mechanisms confer mitoxantrone transport from leukemic progenitors. These data argue that ABCB1 modulation is not an effective strategy to circumvent drug extrusion from primitive leukemic progenitor cells and may preferentially target residual normal progenitors in AML.