biostudies-literatureColucci MAssociazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul CancroMinistero della SaluteWorldwide Cancer Research92https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10588013biostudies-literatureUnknown11(1)T-cell lymphoblastic acute leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive blood cancer, characterized by restricted cellular subsets with enriched leukemia initiating cells (LICs). Recently, Ephrin receptors (Eph) were described to be highly expressed in cancer stem cells. Here, using public RNA-Seq datasets of human T-ALL, we reported that EphB6 was the only member within the Eph family overexpressed in over 260 samples. We also found the highest level of EphB6 in a minor cell subpopulation within bulk tumors of patient-derived xenografts, obtained through the injection of primary patient biopsy material into immunocompromised NOD-Scid/IL2Rγc^-/- (NSG) mice. Interestingly, this EphB6 positive (EphB6+) subset showed an enriched LIC activity after in vivo transplantation into NSG mice. AdditioBiomarker researchA functional role of Ephrin type-B receptor 6 (EPHB6) in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.PMC10588013GR-2011-02351534Progetto Ricerca Corrente 2020-202320-0318IG-23070Tamiro FRossi GTrivieri NColucci MGiambra VVisioli APracella RSansico FMencarelli GDe Santis EBinda EBarile CfalseA functional role of Ephrin type-B receptor 6 (EPHB6) in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.T-cell lymphoblastic acute leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive blood cancer, characterized by restricted cellular subsets with enriched leukemia initiating cells (LICs). Recently, Ephrin receptors (Eph) were described to be highly expressed in cancer stem cells. Here, using public RNA-Seq datasets of human T-ALL, we reported that EphB6 was the only member within the Eph family overexpressed in over 260 samples. We also found the highest level of EphB6 in a minor cell subpopulation within bulk tumors of patient-derived xenografts, obtained through the injection of primary patient biopsy material into immunocompromised NOD-Scid/IL2Rγc^-/- (NSG) mice. Interestingly, this EphB6 positive (EphB6+) subset showed an enriched LIC activity after in vivo transplantation into NSG mice. Additio2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Oct2026-07-14T20:02:41.852Z2025-05-29T19:21:45.149ZS-EPMC105880133785827410.1186/s40364-023-00531-3