A NEW wonder drug has been hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of leukaemia.
Scientists said Mabthera can almost double the chances of remission - where abnormal cells can no longer be found in the blood or bone marrow.
It has also been shown to stop the disease in relapsed patients and seems to work best when added to standard chemotherapy.
The drug was most effective in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, known as CLL .
More than 2000 cases a year are diagnosed in the UK.
Researcher Professor Andrew Pettitt of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital said: "The goals of treatment are to shrink the disease to the point where we cannot detect it, and maximise the length of time before the cancer returns.
"This new treatment will give many patients the opportunity of living longer."
(Source: Daily Record December 8th 2008)
Scientists said Mabthera can almost double the chances of remission - where abnormal cells can no longer be found in the blood or bone marrow.
It has also been shown to stop the disease in relapsed patients and seems to work best when added to standard chemotherapy.
The drug was most effective in treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, known as CLL .
More than 2000 cases a year are diagnosed in the UK.
Researcher Professor Andrew Pettitt of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital said: "The goals of treatment are to shrink the disease to the point where we cannot detect it, and maximise the length of time before the cancer returns.
"This new treatment will give many patients the opportunity of living longer."
(Source: Daily Record December 8th 2008)
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