Understanding more about the alterations in our cells that can cause myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are both types of blood cancer that affect the bone marrow (the spongy material inside some of our bones). They become more common with age, as when we get older it becomes more likely that our cells become damaged, disrupting the way they work. To keep our body healthy, cells have special processes that are able to identify and repair this damage. However, sometimes this doesn’t happen, which can lead to person developing MDS or AML.

Dr Quek and her team want to focus their research on a specific type of MDS and AML which is caused by alterations in the process that usually works to repair damaged blood cells as for these people the disease can be much more difficult to treat. In previous research they have found that people who do not have MDS or AML can have the same alterations in cells in their blood and bone marrow which could mean they could go on to develop these types of blood cancers in the future. However, some people despite having these alterations, don’t develop the diseases and Dr Quek and her team want to understand why this is. They hope to find ways to predict whether someone with these specific alterations is likely to develop MDS or AML in the future.

The hope is that if we can understand more about the process that can lead to someone developing MDS or AML. This would allow us to develop better treatments and could mean that people could be identified and treated earlier, potentially even preventing them from developing these diseases.