|  | | | Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research now has more than £40 million invested in research dedicated to giving adult patients with leukaemia the best possible chance of survival. Below are some examples of our current research.
| Combination therapy effective for all ages |
A national clinical trial funded by Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research has found a more effective way to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukeamia (CLL).
The CLL4 trial looked at the effectiveness of drugs given to patients with CLL. It has shown that a combination of two drugs called fludarabine and cyclophosphamide is more effective than fludarabine alone.
The trial broke new ground because researchers included any patient who was starting treatment for the first time, including elderly patients who are often excluded from clinical trials. This means the findings from the trial accurately reflect the treatment needs of all CLL patients, regardless of age. As a result of this trial it is hoped that combination therapy will be adopted as a standard treatment for all future CLL patients.
| Genetic mutation key to understanding AML relapse |
Doctors may be able to predict a patient’s risk of relapse thanks to the work of Dr Rosemary Gale and Professor David Linch at University College London. They have discovered that almost half of all acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients carry a genetic mutation which puts them at higher risk of relapse.
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research has awarded the researchers further funding to study how patients with this mutation respond to treatment so that in the future doctors will be able to tailor treatment to the needs of each patient with AML.
| Investigating what causes leukaemia |
Many cancer sufferers receive radiation therapy as part of their treatment and sadly a small minority of these patients develop leukaemia as a result. Professor Eric Wright and his team at the University of Dundee are examining how radiation therapy can cause leukaemia. He believes that some patients may be genetically more prone to develop leukaemia as a result of radiation. If this is the case, it is vital to find out which patients are at higher risk and how they can be treated safely.
As well as providing an important insight into how radiation therapy can cause leukaemia, Professor Wright’s research could also improve our understanding of how the disease develops in its initial stages. Improving our understanding of leukaemia is essential for the development of new, more effective treatments.
With your donation or support we can continue investing in research that will make a real difference to the lives of those affected by blood cancers.
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