Researchers at The University of Manchester have unlocked the potential of a new test which could help the way doctors diagnose and monitor a common childhood leukemia.
Dr. Suzanne Johnson says that cancerous acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells produce and release special structures that can be traced in the blood.
The discovery could have major implications on the diagnosis, monitoring, drug delivery and treatment of childhood leukemia.
Until recently, the “Extracellular Vesicles,” as they are known, were thought to be worthless debris. Dr. Johnson investigated their presence in the plasma from bone marrow biopsies and discovered their ability to circulate in the blood using mice.
Though there is an 85 to 90 percent success rate in treatment, children must endure repeat bone marrow biopsies to assess the progress of treatment.
But the researchers hope this discovery might reduce the frequency of the painful procedures, which can also cause bruising, bleeding and infection.
Vesicles, which contain the protein actin and have identifiable characteristics of their parent cell, are typified by branching structures beautifully shown in images produced by the team.
“Our research has shown that cancerous leukemia cells have the ability to package parts of themselves and then send these structure – vesicles – to anywhere in the body though the blood,” Dr. Johnson said. “That opens up a world of possibilities in terms of monitoring the progress of the disease and making diagnosis quickly and efficiently. They are also internalized by other cells and act as an effective route for cell communication.
“Now the challenge is to investigate whether other cancers produce and release these structures as well.”
Further down the road, the discovery could have implications on the way drugs are delivered to patients. The team also hope that the vesicles might provide individualized information about the tumors, eventually helping doctors to deliver personalized care.
