New way to kill leukaemia cells found

[Posted: Tue 03/11/2009 by Olivia Fens]

A new way of killing leukaemia cells, including those resistant to current therapies, has been identified, according to a new study from Trinity College Dublin. 

The study, funded by the Irish Cancer Society, found that a new drug, pyrrolo-1,5-benzoxazepine-15 (PBOX-15), was able to kill chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells, including those from patients with poor prognosis.

CLL is the most common leukaemia in the western world. While some progress has been made in developing new treatments for this disease, resistance and recurrence of the disease mean that new approaches need to be found.

The TCD researchers showed that PBOX-15 activates key targets in leukaemia cells that triggers the cells to die.

PBOX-15 also killed CLL cells that were resistant to the existing treatment.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Research.

Speaking about the results of the study, Irish Cancer Society chief executive officer John McCormack said the findings now need to be brought from the laboratory to the bedside so that they will ultimately benefit patients with this common form of leukaemia.