AN Oxford scientist has been given £450,000 to investigate the cause of cancer relapse.

Dr Adam Mead from Oxford University has been given the research grant from blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

He will use the money to research the potential links between two common mutated genes in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients and increased risk of relapse.

Around 2,200 adults are diagnosed with AML each year, with one third carrying a mutation to a gene called FLT3.

Leukaemia cells with combinations of genetic mutations which include damage to the FLT3 gene are very effective at surviving chemotherapy and going on to rapidly multiply in the blood.

Consequently, even if they enter remission following chemotherapy, the leukaemia returns in most patients with this faulty gene.

The disease is much harder to treat second time around.

Dr Mead and his team will investigate the links between faults in FLT3 and another associated gene called Runx1. By looking at how these two mutated genes work together to rapidly spread malignant cells in the blood, the researchers may be able to devise ways to target the process.

Dr Mead said: “This research will help us understand the way that faulty genes support the growth and spread of leukaemia cells in AML patients.

“We can then develop specific treatments or new drugs to prevent people from relapsing following chemotherapy.”

Professor Chris Bunce, research director at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, said: “Once we understand how these leukaemia cells spread and survive chemotherapy, we will then be in a position to create drugs that prevent patients from relapsing.”