New drug 'can kill leukaemia'

London, Nov 3 : Scientists from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have discovered a new drug that can destroy cancerous cells in adult leukaemia patients who have developed resistance to other treatments.

Lead researcher Professor Mark Lawler, of TCD''s school of medicine, said the research was "at an early stage" and it could be another three to five years before the drug called PBOX-15 is used as a life saving treatment.

''''Now we have to move it on to see if there are any side effects and bring it forward as a potential therapy for patients," the Telegraph quoted Lawler as saying.

''''But it''s very exciting.

''''We want to give hope to cancer patients,'''' he added.

During the study, PBOX-15 was found to attack and break down the skeleton in leukaemia cells in samples given by patients.

It was also found to effectively treat Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow, which is the most common leukaemia in the western world in adults.

The research team also involving researchers from University of Sienna, Italy have found PBOX- 15 was more effective than the current medication, fludarabine, used to treat the disease and also killed CLL cells that were resistant to treatment.

--ANI