Good cells reduce risk

LEUKAEMIA patients could benefit from a radical new type of bone marrow transplant which cuts the chance of their blood cancer returning.

The method ensures only “good” immune cells from a donor are used.

Any “bad” cells that could attack the patient are being eliminated before use.

Dutch firm Kiadis Pharma is behind the technique called ATIR, which has shown huge promise in early trials.

British patients will be enrolled in a larger study next year.

A study of 23 leukaemia patients found ATIR cut the chance of a relapse within a year from 29 to 9 per cent.