Australian scientists from the Centre for Cancer Biology at SA Pathology have discovered an inherited gene defect which predisposes some people to developing acute leukemia. Thanks to this finding, individuals who are high risk of developing the disease can now be identified, monitored and treated much sooner.

Mutations are said to be found in a gene which regulates the activity of many others involved in the development iwhite blood cells according to Professor Hamish Scott.

"It's called myelodysplastic syndrome to start with and turns into acute myeloid leukaemia and the problem with this type of leukaemia is the symptoms are quite generic to start with," he said.

"You might just feel a bit weak, a bit tired and you might find yourself almost dead within a week.

"So to be able to pick this up early is incredibly important."

Myelodysplastic syndromes are formerly known as preleukemia and said to be a diverse collection of blood related medical conditions that may involve the ineffective production or poorly formed blood cells.

Genetic testing is already available and a clinical trial has begun in the United States.