Human trials for leukaemia vaccine

A vaccine treatment for people with leukaemia is to be tested on human patients.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jan 2010, 10:54 BST
Updated 5th Jan 2010, 10:54 BST

Scientists have developed a drug which is designed to prevent the cancer recurring following chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant.

The treatment, which works by boosting the patient's own immune system, will be trialled in the next few months at King's College London.

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Researchers hope it could eventually be used to treat other types of cancer.

The first tests will be carried out on patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

The vaccine is designed to identify and attack any cancer cells which remain in the body once a patient has been treated, preventing a potential relapse. Treating each individual will initially cost around 50,000.