Media release

Professor Ursula Kees and Shakir Ibrahim

A TEAM of WA cancer researchers has received a $1 million grant to improve ways to diagnose children with cancer using genetic tests and computers fast enough to process thousands of genes at once.

Led by Professor Ursula Kees, the team based at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth has already identified a number of key cancer genes, including a tumor suppressor gene associated with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children.

She said the grant received from the Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation (Inc.) allowed researchers to tap into major advances from the Human Genome Project and ability of computers to process vast amounts of genetic data to find just a few genes involved in childhood cancers. This promised clinicians the ability to identify diseases more accurately as a way of improving the treatment their young patients needed.

The Swiss-born researcher heads the Children's Leukaemia & Cancer Research Laboratory at the Telethon Institute where she has worked since its foundation in 1990.

Focused on molecular genetic markers which lead to cancers in children, Professor Kees' team of 12 medical researchers has developed unique methods to diagnose different cancers in collaborative studies with Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and overseas groups including leading hospitals and institutes.

"This grant is crucial for the basic research we do," she said. "Fifty years ago, less than 10 per cent of children with leukaemia were cured.

"Today, the rate is 75 to 80 per cent, which is a tremendous improvement."

Professor Kees said the five-year foundation grant would lead to the development of a fast and simple gene test to significantly improve the lives of people coping with different diseases. Existing diagnostic tests are expensive and relatively slow.

"For leukaemia, patients can receive up to 10 different drugs over a period of three years," she said, adding there are at least five different leukaemia types in children.
Shakir Ibrahim, 10, of Padbury, is one of the children whose treatment would benefit from the foundation grant. First diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with Philadelphia chromosome in June 2003.

Philadelphia chromosome is a particular genetic abnormality that can be detected by cytogenetic tests. It develops when parts of chromosome 9 attach to chromosome 22 during cell division. This creates a new gene which produces a specific protein that makes the leukaemia cells more aggressive and resistant to therapy.

Shakir underwent two years of chemotherapy and was well for 15 months. But he relapsed after a three-month check in May of 2007. His treatment will include more chemotherapy and total body radiation to prepare his body for a cord blood stem cell transplant scheduled for the end of August.

A match for Shakir's transplant will be provided from cord blood from the United States. Shakir attends Padbury Primary School.

For further information about the grant, contact the Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation (Inc) on 9340 8330.