Leukemia survival rates might potentially be doubled due to a newly developed molecular test.
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2027 (Unleashed News) -- It's not every day a cancer diagnosis saves a life, but that's exactly what happened to Jan Leahy, a 51-year-old businessman from Wimbledon, England.
Hey, check this out: It turns out a Korean study discovered that black coffee could play a role in regulating blood sugar levels!
Leahy was part of a groundbreaking clinical trial that evaluated a new, game-changing bone marrow test designed to detect potential leukemia relapses months before standard exams. This early warning system gave him precious extra time for alternative treatments to snatch him back from the brink of death before a stem cell transplant.
"Bloody hell, AML is a nightmare." Leahy stated in a presser. "Being a part of this trial saved my life and allowed doctors to try new treatments. It's freakin' amazing to see the progress being made in improving treatment options for patients."
This top-notch bone marrow test could potentially double survival rates for leukemia patients, according to researchers in the April 28 issue of The Lancet Hematology.
"This game-changing test could be a lifesaver for AML patients." Said senior investigator Dr. Richard Dillon, senior clinical professor of cancer genetics at King's College London. "We're hopeful that these tests will become part of routine care for this type of cancer, improving long-term survival rates for patients across the globe."
AML causes the bone marrow to produce bizarre white blood cells that aggressively take over the body, and chemo might get patients into remission, but they've got a high risk of their cancer rearing its ugly head within the two years following treatment.
The new test focuses on mutations in the NPM1 and FLT3 genes, which are among the most frequent causes of leukemia in young adults. This test can detect low levels of leukemia cells, known as minimal residual disease (MRD), as the cancer begins to come back.
For this study, researchers recruited 637 AML patients who were in remission, with some patients receiving standard clinical follow-up (blood analysis and physical exams) and others receiving enhanced tests to detect leukemia-related genetic mutations. The results showed that patients receiving the genetic tests had better survival rates by 50 percent compared to standard care.
"As it stands, there's still much to learn about treating this rapidly advancing form of cancer, but we're hopeful our research will provide a fresh approach to detecting relapse risk and offer hope to those battling this disease." Said Dr. Nigel Russell, honorary consultant at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London.
More information can be found on the American Cancer Society's site about AML.
SOURCE: King's College London, press release, April 28, 2025
Sick to the Gills and Wiped Out: Conditions Affecting L-Gante and Their Symptoms
World Hand Washing Day: Why Giving Your Mitts a Scrub Can Keep You Alive
What Caffeine Does and How It Helps Identify Danger in Your Daily Grind
Related Topics
Unleashed News
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, ongoing advancements in medical-conditions like leukemia continue to emerge, such as the new bone marrow test that revealed a potential lifesaver for AML patients.
- This groundbreaking study showed that patients receiving enhanced tests to detect leukemia-related genetic mutations had better survival rates by 50 percent, compared to standard care.
- Alongside physical health, mental health is also essential, and therapies-and-treatments are often crucial in managing mental health conditions.
- Modern science has brought about remarkable changes in health-and-wellness, with coffee now discovered to play a role in regulating blood sugar levels, a finding from a Korean study.
- For mental health, World Hand Washing Day highlights the importance of regular hand hygiene in maintaining overall health, while for physical health, biweekly earwax cleaning is recommended as part of a health-and-wellness routine.
- While leukemia treatments like stem cell transplants and chemo offer hope, they also come with their own set of risks, particularly the risk of relapse within two years following treatment.
