Twin girls lead scientists to secret of childhood cancer

[RedEarth]

Source: The Times

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 Murphy, 4, who is in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and her healthy sister, Isabella, 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.

.........

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-leukaemic 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 — it is impossible to tell which one — 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.



Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article3207141.ece

[KatyaR]

1. This is so awesome--a very close cousin of mine died at 19

from leukemia, and we were all devastated. It's amazing what researchers are finding these days.

Just think--fundies and republicans want to stop science and the development of new treatments for disease. How can they possibly want to stop something that's so important in our lives? It absolutely baffles me.

[Igel]

3. I think few would have a problem with this.

Most fundies--there are some that reject all medicines and doctors, of course, so I exclude them--wouldn't have a problem with checking for pre-leukemic stem cells and trying to deal with them in some way. Even those that don't like HESC research.

No HESCs were harmed in the conducting of this research. So to speak.

NB: HESC = human embryonic stem cell.

[madeline_con]

2. Great news.

Too bad "stem cells" are a verbotten topic with the people in the wayback machine. :puke:

[truedelphi]

4. It is good news, this development. But it confuses me

that the RW fundies weren't upset about embryonic material being out and out thrown in the garbage -it was only when they realized it might be used in a scientific way that it started bothering them.us