The Australian scientists reported that they have made a significant discovery in the study of Leukaemia. Leukaemia is a type of cancer marked by abnormal increase of white blood cells or leukocytes. The leukocytes are part of our immune system and they are derived from the bone marrow. The researchers have worked on the internal structure of leukocytes and developed a 3D model of a protein receptor in leukocytes. Cancer is the outcome of abrupt changes in human cells termed as mutation. Leukaemia is believed to be caused by the malfunctioning of the protein receptor in WBCs. This receptor interacts with a hormone in the blood called as GM-CSF. So when the receptor misbehaves it results in uncontrolled proliferation of cell which is basically called as cancer. The new 3D model gives the complete perspective to scientists to work on the structure and possibly develop drugs or therapies to combat the disease. Today chemotherapy is the tool used against Leukaemia which destroys some useful normal cells along with the cancerous cells. Now that the causal model is in hand scientists can now aim for therapies specific for abnormal cells alone. The breakthrough also owes to improve treatment mechanisms for other diseases like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

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