Finding new ways to treat acute myeloid leukaemia
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that is very difficult to treat. In this project, the team are trying to find new ways to treat the disease.
The challenge
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer affecting more than 2,500 people every year in the UK. Unfortunately, this blood cancer is very difficult to treat. People are usually given chemotherapy which has nasty side effects and doesn’t always work, and people often see their disease return. There have been limited new treatment options for people with AML and we urgently new ways to treat people with this disease.
The project
People with AML are unable to produce normal functioning blood cells. Dr Rodrigues and his team have identified a key molecule involved in the normal function of blood cells and have found that the levels of this molecule are lower than they should be in people who have AML. They think that by raising the levels of this molecule, they might be able to restore the normal functions of blood cells.
The future
If they find that increasing the levels of this molecule restores the normal of function of blood cells, it could mean that this molecule would be a promising new target for the development of future treatments. Ultimately, this could provide people with AML with a new treatment option and improve the chance of survival for people with the disease.