Australian scientists have announced a breakthrough approach that could transform the treatment of myelofibrosis, a rare and life-threatening blood cancer that affects the bone marrow.
The study, published in the journal ”Blood’, moves beyond symptom management by focusing on immunotherapy strategies that directly target the abnormal blood cells driving the disease, which researchers say could lead to more effective and longer-lasting treatments.
In a statement released on Monday, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) said myelofibrosis disrupts the production of healthy blood cells, often causing severe fatigue, chronic pain, an enlarged spleen, and reduced quality of life. Existing therapies help ease symptoms but cannot eradicate the disease.
According to the Director of SAHMRI’s Blood Cancer Program, Professor Daniel Thomas, the research marks a world-first by showing that Type 1 and Type 2 calreticulin mutations respond differently to treatment. He co-led the study with Dr. Angel Lopez, Head of Human Immunology at SA Pathology.
The research team identified two therapeutic targets capable of selectively eliminating diseased cells. Professor Thomas said current treatments do not precisely attack the cells causing the condition, while the new approach focuses on the biological features that distinguish harmful cells from healthy ones.
He described the findings as part of a major shift toward disease-specific treatment for myelofibrosis and related blood cancers, adding that the study, which used patient-donated cells, highlights the growing potential of precision immunology, allowing the immune system to target cancer-causing cells while sparing healthy tissue.
