25 January 2001
Dundee scientists' leukaemia studies include thalidomide
Joint release with the Leukaemia Research Fund
Scientists at the University of Dundee have received a £130,000 (one
hundred and thirty thousand pounds) boost to their work thanks to
Leukaemia Research Fund (LRF). The UK's leading blood cancer charity is supporting
two research projects in Dundee which focus on
Establishing new approaches to treating cancers of the blood such as
leukaemia.
One project - led by Dr David Bowen at the Molecular & Cellular
Pathology unit at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School - will focus on acute
myeloid leukaemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplasia (MDS), a blood disease that
can transform into leukaemia.
"Both of these diseases can be difficult to cure because of resistance
to the drugs used in their treatment. We are using a novel approach which
will focus on analysing whether the body's own defence system - white blood
cells called neutrophils - can be made to attack and then destroy cancer
cells," Dr Bowen explained.
"Neutrophils will be bound to the leukaemia cells by specially created
antibodies called bispecific antibodies which will be made in our
laboratory. These antibodies will then be tested against leukaemia cells
for their ability to promote killing by neutrophils," he added.
At the same time, Dr Bowen has also received an award from Leukaemia
Research Fund to run a clinical trial of patients suffering from low
risk myelodysplasia. This is part of a nationwide study being carried out on
behalf of the MDS Therapy Working Group.
"MDS patients have high levels of cell death in the bone marrow, part of
which may be caused by a protein called tumour necrosis factor," Dr
Bowen highlighted.
"We are carrying out a clinical trial of thalidomide, a well-known drug
that is now known to have benefits in treating cancers such as
leukaemia by starving them of oxygen. Thalidomide reduces the amount of tumour
necrosis factor and also reduces the overgrowth of bone marrow blood
vessels - which is also a feature of MDS."
"A small study carried out in the US has suggested that thalidomide can
eliminate the need for blood transfusions in some MDS patients. In the
clinical trial, scientists will assess the blood response of MDS
patients to the drug and its effect on bone marrow cell death and tumour necrosis
levels."
Dr Bowen will be joined on the project by Professor Ghulam Mufti, from
the Department of Haematological Medicine at King's College, London.
Myelodysplasia is a common blood disease - diagnosed in 2,200 Britons
each year - in which patients develop low blood counts and often require
blood transfusion. A proportion of patients go on to develop acute leukaemia.
Acute myeloid leukaemia is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood
affecting immature cells of the bone marrow, usually of the white cell
population. Approximately 1,600 new cases are diagnosed each year in the
UK. It is much more common in adults than in children.
"Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our supporters, the money is now
being used in Dundee to help save the lives of people with leukaemia and the
related diseases," commented Dr George McDonald, Scottish President of
Leukaemia Research Fund.
"It is important that we continue to increase our efforts to boost the
pioneering research work that the LRF is funding across the UK," he
added.
Leukaemia Research Fund is the only national charity devoted exclusively
to preventing and improving treatments for leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma,
myelodysplasia, the myeloproliferative disorders and aplastic anaemia in
children and adults.
The charity provides free patient information literature on all cancers
of the blood and related conditions either by phone on 020 7405 0101, or by
post at 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ. This literature can be
downloaded from:
weblink: www.lrf.org.uk
- Ends -
For more information, please contact Andrew Miller at the Leukaemia
Research Fund press office on 020 7269 9019 or
Carol Pope at the University
of Dundee press office:Tel: 01382 344021; Fax: 01382 345515; Weblink:
www.dundee.ac.uk/pressoffice/
Leukaemia Research Fund, 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ
Registered charity 216032, a company limited by guarantee 738089