A genetic abnormality can make children more likely to relapse after treatment for a certain type of leukaemia. The discovery could change how doctors treat these patients.
The background
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer, making up about 23% of cancers diagnosed in children under 15.
Children with an abnormality in a gene called IKZF1 were found to be three times as likely to relapse as other children. So children with this abnormality could be given stronger treatment from the start: intensive treatment isn't normally used because chemotherapy drugs are very toxic, but in this case the benefits outweigh the harm.
About 80% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia are cured, but sadly a quarter of them relapse, and only 30% of those survive five years.
So the rule is: if a child doesn't need intensive high-dose treatment, don't give it; but the child must be cured.
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