The study of twins has helped discover to the causes of leukemia

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia - Scientists at the University of Oxford, the cells responsible for the occurrence of the most common cancers found in children. The discovery was made by a pair of four-year study of identical twins, according to the journal Science. One of the girls was Isabella Murphy (Isabella Murphy) healthy, and her sister Olivia (Olivia) was diagnosed at age two with leukemia - malignant disease of the blood-forming tissues. Was discovered in a study of Olivia chromosomal abnormality manifested fusion of two genes - quite often found in patients with leukemia. Study leader Tariq Enver (Tariq Enver) and his colleagues have identified a group of cells that fused together the genes contained, and a small number were transplanted into immunodeficient mice. In mice, there was such a disease leukemia. The researchers concluded that they had found, the cell is a stem cell leukemia. In the next phase of the research scientists who track the origin of the stem cell leukemia, until they transform cancer. For this purpose, they examined healthy sister Olivia - Isabella. In the bone marrow Isabella showed a small number of cells also contain fused genes. However, these cells were found in immature precursor leukemia stem cells in Olivia. Enver referred to them as "preleykemicheskie stem cells." Scientists have followed the path of these cells and found that they were in the body of the sister Isabella in utero, from a common fetal membranes. According Enver preleykemicheskih presence of stem cells does not mean that it Isabella leukemia. They are only slightly increase (about 10%) the risk of developing the disease. The scientists noted that leukemia. The result of a series of mutations (eg as a result of infection), which is obviously what in the case of Olivia Enver suggested that the existence of leukemia stem cells and their precursors may be the mechanism of the development of early and late recurrence of leukemia after remission explain. If after chemotherapy in a patient, every stem cell leukemia, they have to spread a little time, there is an early relapse. If at the end of treatment, only a few preleykemicheskih stem cells, they might cause leukemia only in the case of additional mutations, and it requires a lot of time. Scientists say the discovery could lead to new specific and gentle treatment of leukemia. Furthermore, users can the effectiveness of chemotherapy, tracking content leukemia stem cells and their precursors in the body of the patient.