Scientists develop method to kill leukaemia cells

In a breakthrough, scientists have discovered a method to 'kill' leukaemia cells, which may lead to new treatments for the cancer.
Scientists at Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics and The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles have demonstrated that leukaemic cells can be eradicated by removing a carbohydrate modification displayed on the cell's surface.
The discovery is an important advance against leukaemia, a cancer of malignant white blood cells that multiply uncontrollably, said director of Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics, Professor Mark von Itzstein.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is the most common childhood cancer.
"We have found that the leukaemic cell has an altered cell surface carbohydrate decoration compared to normal cells and this also conveys resistance to drug treatment," von Itzstein said.

"We have now shown that with the removal of this carbohydrate alteration the cells die," von Itzstein said.
"By exploiting this 'Achilles heel' in these leukaemic cells, our collaborative research efforts are now focused on the development of a new type of drug therapy that targets this carbohydrate modification," von Itzstein said.
The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.