Test could lead to more effective leukaemia treatment

Simple blood test capable of detecting levels of leukaemia cells post chemotherapy. Cardiff University scientists are part of a UK team to develop a simple blood test capable of detecting levels of leukaemia cells remaining after intensive chemotherapy. Working alongside experts from King's College London, a team from the University's School of Medicine led by Dr Robert Hills provided the crucial data from current patients with leukaemia. The test helps predict which patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are at risk of their cancer returning in the future, helping to guide doctors on what further treatment is needed. Dr Robert Hills, who coordinated the clinical trial and collected data for the project from the Haematology Clinical Trials Unit, based in Cardiff, said: "The data we've collected from patients has given us a new insight into Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). "Looking at the disease while people are receiving treatment has given us a unique opportunity to learn much more about how best to treat. "What we have been able to identify is a group of patients who otherwise would be thought to do quite well, who in fact have a very poor prognosis, and who are not well served currently.