Identical twins lead to leukaemia breakthrough

The twins have been crucial to the new research, as they are genetically identical but one has developed cancer whereas the other has not. The scientists found that the girls’ blood contains genetically abnormal cells known as pre-leukaemia cells. These were formed by a mutation known as translocation, in which two genes fuse to create an abnormal new one. This random event happened in a single cell in one of the twins while they were still in the womb. As the twins shared a placenta, the original mutant’s daughter cells populated the blood of both sisters.

The discovery will help doctors to monitor Isabella, and children like her, so that further genetic damage in her pre-leukaemia stem cells is caught early. By the time she is 14, her pre-leukaemic stem cells should have died naturally.

“Pre-leukaemia cells are still evident, so the sword of Damocles is still hanging there,” Dr Ancliff said. “Hopefully, we will see them disappear.” (Times)

clipped from www.timesonline.co.uk Identical twin sisters have led British scientists to a breakthrough in leukaemia research that promises more effective therapies with fewer harmful side-effects By comparing Olivia, who is in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and her healthy sister, researchers have traced the tumour stem cells that drive the most common form of childhood cancer The discovery will enable doctors to screen young leukaemia patients to establish the severity of their illness and spare some the harrowing side effects of aggressive chemotherapy Olivia is a prime example of how hazardous this can be: although her treatment has been successful, it left her unable to fight off a chicken pox infection that blinded her in one eye Chemotherapy has such harsh effects on children with leukaemia that between 1 and 2 % die The stem-cell advance will also open new approaches to treating the disease Another application could be preventive treatment for children like Isabella who are known to be at high risk