EMBL scientists discovered self-sustaining inflammatory circuits in the bone marrow stem cell microenvironment that precede blood cancers. The illustration shows cancer cells against a background of heatmaps representing gene regulation. Credit: EMBL Creative Team Every moment, the bone marrow generates millions of fresh blood and immune cells. This nonstop renewal depends on a carefully balanced relationship between hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), supportive stromal cells, and a network of