The Becker lab studies malignant stem cell populations in myeloid neoplasms. By combining the power of cell sorting, qPCR based gene expression analysis and advanced normal and cancer stem cell models, we are now able to characterize the contribution of normal somatic tissue stem cells to the development of cancers, including Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and MDS. Our lab uses model systems and gene expression analysis to compare normal stem cells with their malignant counterparts with the goal of an improved understanding of the origins of cancer stem cells and to identify novel targets for therapy. We have employed a unique flow cytometry platform and analysis approach to differentiate normal and malignant stem cell and progenitor populations in patients undergoing treatment for AML and MDS. This platform allows us to assess the impact of therapy on malignant stem cell populations and their gene signatures in patients undergoing treatment of their disease. In addition, we are interested in the role of the microenvironment in supporting malignant stem cell populations.

• Coppage M, Iqbal A, Ahmad A, Becker MW. Leukemia specific loss of heterozygosity of MHC in a CLL patient: Disease state impacts timing of confirmatory typing. Hum Immunol. 2013 Jan; 74(1):41-4.
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• Frisch BJ, Ashton JM, Xing L, Becker MW, Jordan CT, Calvi LM. Functional inhibition of osteoblastic cells in an in vivo mouse model of myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2012 Jan 12; 119(2):540-50.
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• Becker MW, Jordan CT. Leukemia stemness signatures step toward the clinic. Cell Stem Cell. 2011 Sep 2; 9(3):185-6.
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• Milner LA, Becker MW, Bernstein SH, Bruckner L, Friedberg JW, Holland GA, Ifthikharuddin JJ, Liesveld JL, Mathes EJ, Menchel HL, Mullen CA, Sasson T, Phillips GL. Intra-arterial methylprednisolone for the management of steroid-refractory acute gastrointestinal and hepatic graft versus host disease. Am J Hematol. 2011 Aug; 86(8):712-4.
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• Becker MW, Jordan CT. Leukemia stem cells in 2010: current understanding and future directions. Blood Rev. 2011 Mar; 25(2):75-81.
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• Phillips GL, Bernstein SH, Liesveld JL, Abboud CN, Becker MW, Constine LS, Ifthikharuddin JJ, Loughner JE, Milner LA, Vesole DH, Friedberg JW. A Phase I trial: dose escalation of melphalan in the "BEAM" regimen using amifostine cytoprotection. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2011 Jul; 17(7):1033-42.
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• Fu CT, Zhu KY, Mi JQ, Liu YF, Murray ST, Fu YF, Ren CG, Dong ZW, Liu YJ, Dong M, Jin Y, Chen Y, Deng M, Zhang W, Chen B, Breslin P, Chen SJ, Chen Z, Becker MW, Zhu J, Zhang JW, Liu TX. An evolutionarily conserved PTEN-C/EBPalpha-CTNNA1 axis controls myeloid development and transformation. Blood. 2010 Jun 10; 115(23):4715-24.
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• Majeti R, Becker MW, Tian Q, Lee TL, Yan X, Liu R, Chiang JH, Hood L, Clarke MF, Weissman IL. Dysregulated gene expression networks in human acute myelogenous leukemia stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Mar 3; 106(9):3396-401.
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• Laughlin TS, Becker MW, Liesveld JL, Mulford DA, Abboud CN, Brown P, Rothberg PG. Rapid method for detection of mutations in the nucleophosmin gene in acute myeloid leukemia. J Mol Diagn. 2008 Jul; 10(4):338-45.
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• Akala OO, Park IK, Qian D, Pihalja M, Becker MW, Clarke MF. Long-term haematopoietic reconstitution by Trp53-/-p16Ink4a-/-p19Arf-/- multipotent progenitors. Nature. 2008 May 8; 453(7192):228-32.
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• Guzman ML, Rossi RM, Neelakantan S, Li X, Corbett CA, Hassane DC, Becker MW, Bennett JM, Sullivan E, Lachowicz JL, Vaughan A, Sweeney CJ, Matthews W, Carroll M, Liesveld JL, Crooks PA, Jordan CT. An orally bioavailable parthenolide analog selectively eradicates acute myelogenous leukemia stem and progenitor cells. Blood. 2007 Dec 15; 110(13):4427-35.
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• Liu TX, Becker MW, Jelinek J, Wu WS, Deng M, Mikhalkevich N, Hsu K, Bloomfield CD, Stone RM, DeAngelo DJ, Galinsky IA, Issa JP, Clarke MF, Look AT. Chromosome 5q deletion and epigenetic suppression of the gene encoding alpha-catenin (CTNNA1) in myeloid cell transformation. Nat Med. 2007 Jan; 13(1):78-83.
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• Clarke MF, Becker MW. Stem cells: the real culprits in cancer? Sci Am. 2006 Jul; 295(1):52-9.
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• Al-Hajj M, Becker MW, Wicha M, Weissman I, Clarke MF. Therapeutic implications of cancer stem cells. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2004 Feb; 14(1):43-7.
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• Park IK, Qian D, Kiel M, Becker MW, Pihalja M, Weissman IL, Morrison SJ, Clarke MF. Bmi-1 is required for maintenance of adult self-renewing haematopoietic stem cells. Nature. 2003 May 15; 423(6937):302-5.
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• Becker MW, Clarke MF. SLUGging away at cell death. Cancer Cell. 2002 Oct; 2(4):249-51.
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• Ali S, Becker MW, Davis MG, Dorn GW. Dissociation of vasoconstrictor-stimulated basic fibroblast growth factor expression from hypertrophic growth in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Relevant roles of protein kinase C. Circ Res. 1994 Nov; 75(5):836-43.
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• Ali S, Davis MG, Becker MW, Dorn GW. Thromboxane A2 stimulates vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy by up-regulating the synthesis and release of endogenous basic fibroblast growth factor. J Biol Chem. 1993 Aug 15; 268(23):17397-403.
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• Dorn GW, Becker MW. Thromboxane A2 stimulated signal transduction in vascular smooth muscle. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1993 Apr; 265(1):447-56.
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• Dorn GW, Becker MW, Davis MG. Dissociation of the contractile and hypertrophic effects of vasoconstrictor prostanoids in vascular smooth muscle. J Biol Chem. 1992 Dec 5; 267(34):24897-905.
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• Dorn GW, Becker MW. Growth factors downregulate vascular smooth muscle thromboxane receptors independent of cell growth. Am J Physiol. 1992 Apr; 262(4 Pt 1):C927-33.
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