New zebrafish research gives insight into genetic leukaemia risks

Research conducted using zebrafish has given scientists a new insight into how clinicians may be able to predict how aggressive certain forms of leukaemia will be.

A team from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah have been using the marine animals as models for the study of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia, a form of the disease which frequently affects children.

By selecting cells from specimens in which the disease advanced more rapidly, the researchers were able to isolate genes that are associated with the most belligerent forms of the cancer.

Among the genes identified was one that had not previously been recognised as important in the development of this illness, while another has received so little attention that it has not been officially named.

Dr Nikolaus Trede, a senior author of the article, said: "These results may lead to tests that can show which children with the disease need the strongest chemotherapy to overcome their cancer."

Data from Cancer Research UK shows that leukaemia is currently the 12th most common cancer type in Britain.