 |  |  | | | £900,000 BOOST TO CANCER RESEARCH IN SALISBURY | | | | |
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Release Date: 10th June 2002
Salisbury scientists have been awarded £900,000 by the Leukaemia Research Fund to carry out pioneering research into a blood cancer called myeloma.
The team, which is based at the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Salisbury District Hospital, is the UK's leading research group in the application of a technique called FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) to study this disease, which affects 3,000 people in the UK each year.
FISH is a sensitive way of detecting genetic mistakes in the 23 pairs of chromosomes found in all cells. Cancers arise from alterations in the structure and behaviour of the 30,000 genes controlling cell division, maturation and death. These changes can be small or relatively large such as part of one chromosome swapping with another (known as a translocation).
With FISH technology, parts of chromosomes are artificially stained so they can be detected on a computer screen (see notes for editors). Any genetic damage can then be recorded to build up a precise picture of the natural history of the disease.
This technique has been used very successfully for some years to study leukaemia (particularly childhood leukaemia) - a cancer related to myeloma - but the research team led by Dr Fiona Ross and Professor Nick Cross is now pioneering this method to analyse samples from myeloma patients from across the country.
Myeloma is a cancer of special blood cells called plasma cells which are found inside the bone marrow. Techiques that have traditionally been used have not been sensitive enough to detect the genetic changes found in myeloma. Now research is making this possible.
Dr Ross' team - which is also part of the University of Southampton's School of Medicine - will create a database of genetic abnormalities that are found in this disease, similar to the LRF Cytogenetic Database for Acute Leukaemia which is based at Southampton General Hospital.
Professor Cross, Director of the Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory at Salisbury District Hospital and Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Southampton says: "Myeloma is an extremely complex disease. The techniques that have traditionally been used have not allowed us to build up an accurate picture of each person's disease.
"As a result, most patients are treated according to the same protocol, because there is not enough information for doctors to identify how each person is likely to respond.
"We anticipate, therefore, that this work will greatly improve the clinical management of patients with this devastating disease," he adds.
The information collected in Salisbury will be supplied to the coordinators of the next national UK myeloma clinical trial.
Dr David Grant, Scientific Director of the Leukaemia Research Fund says: "This work is absolutely crucial. Once we have a better picture of the genetic mistakes that can occur with myeloma, it will be possible to put patients into groups so they can receive the treatment that is best suited to their individual disease."
Sheila Shepherd, chairman of the Salisbury Branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund (LRF) welcomed the news of funding for research at the hospital. "It is such a boost to our efforts, seeing such worthwhile research being supported by the LRF. And we will keep on raising money until we reach our goal - a safe and effective cure for patients with myeloma, leukaemia, lymphoma and related cancers of the blood."
Leukaemia Research Fund is the only national UK charity devoted exclusively to improving treatments, finding cures and investigating the causes and prevention of cancers of the blood and related conditions, in children and adults. We bring together under one banner the best scientists and doctors at leading hospitals, medical schools and universities across the UK to work towards our goal. LRF researchers are among world leaders in their fields.
The charity provides free patient information literature on all cancers of the blood and related conditions either by phone on 020 7405 0101, or by post at 43 Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JJ. Alternatively, this literature can be downloaded from our website: www.lrf.org.uk
 | Notes for editors |
 | Each year, 3,000 people are diagnosed with myeloma. One of the features of myeloma - a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow - is painful bone destruction and fractures, which significantly affect the patient's quality of life. |
| Each normal chromosome has its own set of genetic markers. Scientists have found a way of staining these markers with mixtures of fluorescent dyes. Digital images are taken using a very sensitive camera attached to a fluorescence microscope. Sophisticated software is then used to display the genetic abnormality on a computer screen. |
| Dr Ross' team is particularly interested in chromosome 14 - which is believed to hold a number of clues to genetic damage in myeloma. |
| The team plans to analyse samples from more than 1,000 myeloma patients from across the country. |
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