Celebrity Skin: Childhood Leukemia Discovery

Cells don’t take a holiday. Your body keeps moving. Cells in the laboratory continue to need care. What do you do when you are born with “pre-leukemic cells?”

“Oh, make me over
I’m all I want to be
A walking study
In demonology.

Hey, so glad you could make it
Yeah, now you really made it
Hey, so glad you could make it now.”

According to a press release from the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), a group from the Medical Research Council Molecular Haematology Unit at Oxford, studying four-year old twin girls in Bromley, UK, has identified a rogue cell that is the root cause of childhood leukemia. Both twins had “pre-leukemic” cells but, to date, only one has developed leukemia.

http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/pressoffice/pressrelease_00598

“Oh, look at my face
My name is might have been
My name is never was
My names forgotten

Hey, so glad you could make it
Yeah, now you really made it
Hey, there’s only us left now.”

It is believed that it takes another genetic mutation, possibly caused by an infection, and is required to create the disease. Leukemia occurs when large numbers of white blood cells take over bone marrow and the body is unable to produce enough normal blood cells. 1% of the population is believed to contain “pre-leukemic” cells and of this population, 1% has the second mutation occur and get cancer.

“When I wake up in my makeup
It’s too early for that dress
Wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood
I’m glad I came here
With your pound of flesh.
No second billing cause you’re a star now
Oh, Cinderella
They aren’t sluts like you
Beautiful garbage, beautiful dresses
Can you stand up or will you just fall down.

You better watch out
What you wish for
It better be worth it
So much to die for.”

One of the twins has now developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but the other twin is healthy. Doctors are continually testing the healthy twin, and they believe that when she reaches adolescence, the rogue cells will disappear.

“Hey, so glad you could make it
Yeah, now you really made it
Hey, there’s only us left now.

When I wake up in my makeup
Have you ever felt so used up as this?
It’s all so sugarless
Hooker/waitress/model/actress
Oh, just go nameless
Honeysuckle, she’s full of poison
She obliterated everything she kissed
Now she’s fading
Somewhere in Hollywood
I’m glad I came here
With your pound of flesh.”

Current treatments are too aggressive to eradicate the “pre-leukemic” cells, so screening is not likely, according to doctors. Study leader Professor Tariq Enver has been quoted as saying that now that doctors know about the cell, they hope to some day find a way of targeting the disease.

According to Dr. Phil Ancliff of the Great Ormond Street Hospital (where my son was treated for his eyes and the hospital to which J.M. Barrie donated the royalties from Peter Pan), 90% of children survive leukemia because of intensive chemotherapy. However, that therapy can come at a price. The treated twin has lost sight in one eye.

Such is the kind of research that kinds us all one step closer to cures.

“You want a part of me
Well, I’m not selling cheap
No, I’m not selling cheap.”

Song lyrics from Celebrity Skin, written by Courtney Love of Hole.