[Whizbang]

Not sure if this was posted before:

http://www.9news.com.au/health/2014/...a-breakthrough

3:01pm November 14, 2014

Qld scientists make leukaemia breakthrough

Australian researchers have made a breakthrough in the treatment of leukaemia patients undergoing bone marrow transplants, finding a way to reduce the incidence of a potentially fatal complication.
The researchers say their discovery will change international practice for the treatment of leukaemia patients undergoing bone marrow transplants.
In trials at Brisbane's QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, researchers have made significant gains in reducing the incidence of "acute graft versus host disease", a potentially fatal complication that can arise from stem cell transplants.
They did this by adding the drug Tocilizumab - currently approved for use treating rheumatoid arthritis - to the transplant medication regime.
The incidence of acute GVHD was reduced from the usual 50 per cent, to 12 per cent of transplant patients in the trial, they said.
Severe cases - which often result in death - were reduced from 21 per cent to four per cent.
Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg has praised the outstanding research work.
"We all stand to gain from advances in medical research, and yet again QIMR Berghofer is producing results that add to the world's knowledge and change lives," he said.
A phase three study now underway will be the final test before the addition of Tocilizumab to the GVHD prevention regime is registered and adopted in clinical practice.
© AAP 2014