A SOUTHAMPTON charity has made a major medical breakthrough that could revolutionise treating leukaemia patients and save thousands of lives.
Scientists working for Leukaemia Busters have discovered how to boost the killing strength of drugs by a million times.
Their pioneering work, in the newly refurbished Simon Flavell Leukaemia Research Laboratory, based at Southampton General Hospital, is set to pave the way for more effective antibody treatment, that is less harmful to the patient.
Now the charity’s founders, doctors David and Bee Flavell, are preparing to fly to America and reveal their incredible discovery at the world’s biggest cancer meeting.
The revolutionary breakthrough, which could also be used to fight a variety of cancers, has come as a result of 12 months of research and testing, in collaboration with scientists in the German capital Berlin.
They found that molecules called saponins, extracted from the plant commonly know as Baby’s Breath, are able to enhance the killing activity of antibody-based drugs for certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma.
It is believed the saponins break down the membrane of the cancer cell, allowing easier access for the drugs, immunotoxin.
The next step is to take this from the test tube and turn it into a treatment that can be used on humans. If that is successful – a process that could take between three to five years – then thousands of leukaemia patients could benefit from lower doses of drugs.
Dr David Flavell said: “I am usually careful about the words I use with things like this but this discovery could truly revolutionise the way that these antibody-based drugs work and it will save lives. And this doesn’t just apply to leukaemia, there is a really big possibility that this can be used for many cancers too.
“We still need to do a great deal of laboratory- based work to further develop this discovery into a practical and safe treatment for patients and money is the key to achieving this.
“Leukaemia Busters scientists and doctors have worked tirelessly day and night over many years and have relied on the generosity of donations from Daily Echo readers to fund a great deal of its work.”
● To support the charity’s ongoing research visit justgiving.com/leukaemiabusters.
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