A form of gene therapy is showing promising results against a type of leukemia in a small new study, though it is still likely years away from being available as a standard treatment.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have found a way to make umbilical cord blood transplants safer and more effective.

This week the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ofatumumab (Arzerra) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that is not responding to fludarabine (Fludara) or alemtuzumab (Campath).