The efficient diagnosis and therapy of cancers have been the hot topics in the clinic and biomedical areas. In this study, we have developed a new strategy for the fast and high sensitive recognition of the drug-sensitive leukemia K562/B.W. cells and drug-resistant leukemia K562/ADM cells by combining the nanocomposites interface of the gold nanoparticles/polylactide nanofibers (Au/PLA) with the electrochemical detection. Our observations demonstrate that the Au/PLA nanocomposites modified electrode could provide a much more hydrophilic interface for the rapid and high selective identification of leukemia cancer cells. It is evident that different types of leukemia cells could be readily distinguished on the Au/PLA nanocomposites modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode, which have the promising application to be adopted as a significant way to detect and identify various cancer cells and advance the clinic diagnosis and monitoring of tumors with the aim of successful chemotherapy of human cancers. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.