Leukaemia cells hide from treatment — and a new map shows exactly where they go

Two people can share a leukaemia diagnosis, take the same drug, and fare completely differently. A study in the journal Blood shows one reason why: as treatment presses on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, some cancer cells switch into different signalling states and migrate — effectively hiding from the drug's effect. The researchers modelled how cells move between these states under a common class of treatment, BTK inhibitors, identifying a signal called TLR9 that marks the cells on the move. That map matters because a hiding place you can name is one you can target — pointing toward treatment plans timed and tailored to each patient rather than one-size-fits-all. 'This groundbreaking new modelling is an exciting example of how technology could help us understand those differences in response and move toward a more personalised treatment plan for patients,' said the team behind the work, supported by Leukaemia UK.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation