A Pathway to Preventing Leukaemia
$1,147,285
Coordinating Principal Investigator: Dr Hun Chuah
Co-Investigators: Professor Wendy Erber, Professor Michael Leahy, Associate Professor Kathy Fuller, Dr Henry Hui
Associate Investigators: Dr Peter Tan, Dr Tulene Kendrick, Dr Shao Tneh, Dr Belinda Guo, Dr Malcolm Webb, Associate Professor Hasib Sidiqi
This research project aims to revolutionise the early detection and prevention of leukaemia using a Western Australian invention: Immuno-flowFISH. Leukaemia is a blood cancer characterised by the production of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. It can arise spontaneously without any obvious risk factors or occur secondary to a pre-existing chronic bone marrow disorder. More than 50,000 Australians are in the latter group, living in the knowledge that they are at risk of developing leukaemia. Current tests are unable to predict when this may occur.
This research project will address this with a new highly sensitive and specific test they have invented. It can identify one abnormal cell in the blood with a leukaemia associated change in a background of 100,000 normal cells. This innovative world-first technology holds significant promise to predict progression to leukaemia in individuals with pre-existing bone marrow disorders.
The study will be of 100 patients with preexisting bone marrow disorders to identify if new genetic changes are present in blood cells that may indicate leukaemia. By identifying these abnormal cells early, could allow timely intervention before the onset of leukaemia, potentially improving patient outcomes.
This work is critically important as the incidence of blood cancers is increasing and by 2035 will be the most common and fatal cancer type in Australia. Leukaemia prevention is therefore a critical challenge. This project addresses a gap in early detection strategies for leukaemia by applying new WA-invented technology. The team’s research programme to develop a “pathway to prevent leukaemia”, holds significant promise for the many thousands of Australians and their care.
This research could have far-reaching implications, including improving patient outcomes, advancing diagnostic testing, deepening our understanding of leukaemia biology, and reducing preventable deaths from blood cancers.