Penn State University researchers take steps toward finding a cure for leukemia

[HopeHoops]

Cross-post from LBN:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/12/penn_state_university_research.html
Published in The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, PA

Two Penn State researchers have made headway toward curing leukemia.

Sandeep Prabhu and Robert Paulson have discovered that a compound made from fish oil kills a common form of leukemia in mice.

(snip)

There’s already an effective drug for controlling chronic myelogenous leukemia.

But the problem with that drug, Paulson explained, is that it kills the cells produced by the leukemia-causing stem cells but not the actual stem cells, which have the ability to “hide,” Paulson said.

As a result, the leukemia returns if the drug is stopped. Also, the drug sometimes loses effectiveness, allowing the leukemia to evolve into a more lethal stage.

The fish oil-based compound, however, seems to impact the part of the stem cell that regulates whether it produces leukemia cells, and end the process.

(snip)

Full article at link (much more information).

[Irishonly]

1. Hopeful news n/t