Breakthrough discovery by Melbourne scientists offers hope to halt leukaemia

Melbourne researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have detected a “protein handbrake” for the most aggressive form of blood cancer, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

Led by Dr Matt McCormack and Dr Ben Shields, the team discovered that the presence of the protein Hhex triggers the uncontrollable growth of acute myeloid leukaemia. The condition then prevents the body from producing normal, healthy blood cells.

By eliminating the protein in laboratory testing, the researchers found that they could stop the cancer forming.

“We showed blocking the Hhex protein could put the brakes on leukaemia growth and completely eliminate AML, in preclinical models,” Dr McCormack said.

With pre-clinical trials about to begin, the next step for the researchers is to develop a drug that can modify the protein.

“We now hope to identify the critical regions of the protein that enable it to function, which will allow us to design much-needed new drugs to treat AML,” he said.

Around 900 Australians are diagnosed with AML per year.