New data announced on genetic events in identical twins with leukaemia

Leukaemia Research made headlines in January last year when a study on identical twins confirmed for the first time the existence of stem cells in childhood leukaemia. Now, nearly a year on, new data has emerged shedding more light on how leukaemia, the most common form of cancer in children, develops from birth.

The original study led by Professors Mel Greaves and Tariq Enver at University of Oxford compared the blood cells of identical twins Oilvia, who has leukaemia and Isabella, who does not. They found that both twins have the same genetically abnormal primitive cells in their blood, which were shown to have developed during pregnancy, supporting claims that childhood cancer starts in the womb.

With more funding from Leukaemia Research the scientists set out to identify the genetic events that must be set in motion to convert these pre-leukaemic stem cells into full-blown leukaemia in some children.

Dr Caroline Bateman, a clinical scientist working with Professor Mel Greaves, looked at the blood cells of five more pairs of identical twins where one of the children has developed leukaemia. Although it was presumed by many scientists that there would be a common genetic pathway to explain how leukaemia develops in some children, this study has revealed that there is no pattern in the way the pre-leukaemic stem cells behave within individuals.

These findings, which were previously unconfirmed and unsuspected, were announced at the 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Society of Haematology in San Francisco, 6-9 December 2008. The study was selected from over 6,000 applications to be presented at this prestigious event.

(Source: 50th Anniversary Meeting of the American Society of Haematology: Leukaemia Research UK: January 2008)