Testing a new type of drug that could stop blood cancer cells from growing

Many blood cancers, including some types of leukaemia and myeloma, have high levels of a protein called Galectin-1. This protein helps the cancer cells grow, survive and resist treatment. Researchers have previously tried to block this protein, but these medicines had to be at very high doses and caused serious side effects for patients. There is currently no safe and effective way to stop this protein from helping blood cancer cells survive, but researchers believe targeting this protein could be an effective way to treat blood cancers.

In this project, Dr Batta and his team will test a new type of drug that works in a different way to target this protein. Rather than trying to block it after it has already been made, the new drug will target the instruction manual inside the cell that tells the cell to make this protein. The team will test this drug on blood cancer cells donated from people with leukaemia and myeloma. They want to understand how it slows down cancer cell growth and causes cancer cells to die so they can develop it further and make it even more effective. They will also check that the drug is acting precisely on its intended target and not affecting any healthy cells.

If successful, this research could be an important step towards developing a new targeted treatment for some blood cancers by targeting cancer-supporting proteins that were previously difficult to reach with traditional medicines.