Fitness landscapes and the myeloid leukemias.

Fitness landscapes, which provide a unique perspective for viewing co-evolving cell populations, were used to study the evolution of CML and MDS. This led to several conclusions: (1) accelerated phase CML and RAEB/RAEBt are not specific disease entities. They represent the time when AML cells are replacing preleukemia cells; (2) monoclonal hemopoiesis and RA/RARS represent a variety of clinical syndromes with a common appearance but with different evolutionary potential; (3) malignant cells alter the fitness landscape enhancing their proliferative advantage. These studies provide the basis for new approaches to treatment.