Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) are working on a new treatment for an aggressive type of leukemia that outperforms standard chemotherapies.

Dr Nadine Hein, Lead researcher, The John Curtin School of Medical Research said, “Researchers have successfully treated highly aggressive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in mice using the new treatment. Not only have we been able to reduce the number of cancer cells, we have been able to reduce the number of cancer stem cells that tend to develop or be resistant to chemotherapy and are thought to be responsible for disease relapse in patients”

“We used a compound known as CX-5461 to target the protein-making process within the cancer cells. We are working towards a treatment that will improve on the current chemotherapy options and improve the patient's prognosis," he added

Around 1,000 people are diagnosed with AML in Australia each year and, depending on the patient's age, there is a high rate of mortality with only about 30 percent surviving long term.

Dr James D'Rozario, Canberra haematologist and ANU Senior Lecturer said, “standard approach to treating AML hasn't changed in over 30 years. Novel agents such as CX-5461 with more sophisticated mechanisms of action are desperately required to improve outcomes in patients with this group of illnesses.”