Updates on Leukemia Research

Doctors and geneticists continue their quest to develop new treatments for leukemia while increasing their understanding of the illness. The current leukemia cancer research prioritize the understanding of the genetic causes of leukemia, while new treatments are also underway to specifically target leukemia cells.

Clinical Cancer Research and Rate of Survival

Just 2010 last year, the European clinical cancer research published their study in The Lancet Oncology medical journal. The study compared the survival rates between bone marrow transplant and stem cell transplantation patients. The research tracked 329 leukemia patients who underwent treatment between the years 1995 and 1999.

After 10 years, the survival rates for peripheral blood stem cell transplantation were 49.1 %. Ten-year survival rates for bone marrow transplantation were 56.5 %: which is higher than stem cell transplantation, but not to a significant extent.

The findings of this research may help patients and doctors choose between stem cell and bone marrow transplants. For example, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, survival rates were higher for those who had a bone marrow transplant instead of a stem cell transplant. But then, patients with chronic myeloid leukemia fared better with stem cell transplants.

Genetic Leukemia Cancer Research

A second study made by the Institute of Cancer Research (2010), a European leukemia research foundation, said that they have discovered four new genetic variants* that increase the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common leukemia in adults.

The finding brings the number of genetic variants known to increase the risk of CLL to tenfold. These findings increase clinical researchers' understanding of the genetics of CLL. The validity of the genetic risk factors for leukemia could eventually lead to screening tests for people with family histories of leukemia.

Childhood Leukemia Research

In Australia, childhood leukemia research findings have discovered the cells in the thymus gland that may cause childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a treatment-resistant form of leukemia with high rates of relapse. A team of scientists working at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the University of Melbourne made the findings just last year, 2010.

The cells were discovered in studies on mice. The radiation killed up to 99 % of the cells in the thymus, but in that remaining 1% that survived, these abnormal cells multiply again in no time. The cells are similar to stem cells**, which may explain their unusual resilience.

The discovery could have a great contribution to the advancement of childhood leukemia research. Clinical cancer research can now focus on developing targeted treatments that affect these specific cells while leaving healthy cells undamaged.


*genetic variants - changes in the gene from the normal; a genetic abnormality.
**stem cells - The non-specialized cells of the body that have the capacity to self-renew and to differentiate into more mature cells. Like a mass of plasticine which can be molded into unlimited number of shapes.

Resources

Kelland, K. (2010). Scientists find new leukemia gene risk factors. Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6091HR20100110.

Friedrichs, B. (2010). Long-term outcome and late effects in patients transplanted with mobilized blood or bone marrow: A randomized trial. Retrieved March 22, 2010, from http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045%2809%2970352-3/fulltext.

Preidt, R. (2010). Stem cell, bone marrow transplants both benefit leukemia patients. Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_94762.html.

Medical News Today. (2010). Discovery of cells critical to childhood leukemia. Retrieved March 16, 2010, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176853.php.