Nr. 5/March 11, 2005
Prevention of Leukemia Relapses:
165,000 Euros for research project to detect minimal residual disease (MRD)
Therapy for leukemia aims at destroying all malignant cells in
order to prevent the disease from recurring. However, despite all therapy
efforts, some cancer cells are able to survive and can therefore result in
recurrence of the disease termed minimal residual disease (MRD) by physicians.
When such persistent leukemia cells are detected, treatment can often be
redirected and intensified in time to cure the patient. In order to assess
whether the treatment has been successful or whether the therapy must be
intensified, physicians use flow cytometry and molecular biological methods to
analyze blood cells. In flow cytometry, the cells flow in single file through a
thin cell-sorting column which utilizes a laser beam to sort cells by size, and
interior structure, as well as four additional characteristics marked by
antibodies.
Dr. Richard Ratei and Dr. Leonid Karawajew from the research group of Prof. Wolf-Dieter Ludwig (Robert Rössle Clinic, Charité – University Medical Center Berlin/Helios Klinikum Berlin and Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Berlin-Buch) have been testing multiparameter flow cytometry in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Initial results indicate that this method can be used in 90 percent of the patients with ALL. The leukemia specialists are able to detect one leukemia cell among 1,000 or 10,000 healthy cells, respectively. Now, using this technology and in cooperation with working groups in Vienna (Children’s Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Children’s Hospital), Monza (Research Centre M. Tettamanti, Children’s Hospital, University of Milan Bicocca) and Padua (Laboratory for Oncohematology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua), the prognostic significance of multiparameter flow cytometry to detect persistent leukemia cells will be investigated in an international study of children with ALL. Funding for this research project has been provided by the Wilhelm Sander Foundation (Neustadt on the Danube/Germany) which awarded the clinicians in Berlin-Buch a grant of 165,000 Euros for the next two years. Furthermore, for the first time, they will also isolate individual leukemia cells from the bone marrow or peripheral blood with the aid of flow cytometry and, using comprehensive molecular-biological analysis, identify new diagnostic markers and candidate genes for the development of innovative therapy strategies. ALL is a malignant disease occurring particularly in children. Currently, nearly 80 percent of affected children can be cured.
Barbara Bachtler
Press and Public Affairs
Robert-Rössle-Straße 10
13125
Phone.: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 96
Fax: +49 (0) 30 94 06 - 38 33
e-mail: presse@mdc-berlin.de