Hope for a new life...

Australian discovery could lead to cure for leukemia

Australian scientists say they have made a vital discovery which could lead to a cure for leukaemia.

Researchers in Adelaide and Melbourne have used high-tech 3D imaging to map the structure of white blood cells.

They say they have discovered how damaged cells receive the signal which tells them to replicate endlessly, causing leukaemia.

The co-head of the study, Professor Michael Parker, says the discovery means new treatments could potentially stop the disease in its tracks.

"We found in the presence of a hormone, when it binds to this protein receptor, it causes the receptor to form networks on the surface of cells, and this is what causes the signalling," he said.

"And why this is so exciting is because its very easy to see how we could disrupt these networks and stop the signalling."