Chromosome 4 News and Research

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Humans normally have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs. Two copies of chromosome 4, one copy inherited from each parent, form one of the pairs. Chromosome 4 spans more than 191 million DNA building blocks (base pairs) and represents more than 6 percent of the total DNA in cells.

Identifying genes on each chromosome is an active area of genetic research. Because researchers use different approaches to predict the number of genes on each chromosome, the estimated number of genes varies. Chromosome 4 likely contains between 1,300 and 1,600 genes.

Genes on chromosome 4 are among the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 total genes in the human genome.

Human protein may help prevent H1N1 infection

Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have identified a naturally occurring human protein that helps prevent infection by H1N1 influenza and other viruses, including West Nile and dengue virus.

18 Dec 2009

Landmark study provides new insight into congenital heart defects

Researchers from the UC San Diego, School of Medicine and colleagues have identified a new gene, ETS-1, that is linked to human congenital heart defects. The landmark study, recently published online in the journal of Human Molecular Genetics, provides important insights into some of the most prevalent forms of congenital heart defects in humans, including ventricular septal defects and potentially hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a uniformly fatal heart abnormality.

18 Dec 2009

Genes work together by huddling in clusters inside nucleus, research reveals

Research from the Babraham Institute has revealed for the first time that genes work together by huddling in clusters inside the nucleus - the information centre of a cell. These findings, published in the online edition of the journal Nature Genetics, represent a paradigm shift in our understanding of how the genome is spatially organised in relation to gene expression.

16 Dec 2009

Results from five new studies on Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer test announced

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced results from five new studies on its Oncotype DX® breast cancer test, a multi-gene expression test that physicians currently use to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk for patients with early-stage breast cancer.

16 Dec 2009

Study may help in treating sex differentiation disorders in children

Is it a boy or a girl? Expecting parents may be accustomed to this question, but contrary to what they may think, the answer doesn't depend solely on their child's sex chromosomes.

11 Dec 2009

Researchers discover new explanation for differences in severity of mental illness in males

Researchers have discovered a new explanation for differences in the severity of mental illness in males. The more excess copies of a certain gene, the more serious the handicap. The genetic defect is situated on the X-chromosome; and it is suspected that it is the amount of copies of the GDI1 gene that is responsible.

11 Dec 2009

Tasigna demonstrates greater efficacy over Gleevec in chronic Ph+ CML patients

In a large Phase III clinical trial, Tasigna (nilotinib capsules) demonstrated greater efficacy over Gleevec (imatinib) in the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. The new clinical data were just presented as a late breaking abstract at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), in New Orleans, Louisiana.

11 Dec 2009

Enzo Biochem and Ikonisys sign agreement to market molecular-based cervical cancer test

Enzo Biochem, Inc. announced today that its Enzo Clinical Lab division has entered into an exclusive marketing partnership covering the States of New York and New Jersey with privately-owned Ikonisys, Inc., of New Haven, CT, relating to Ikonisys’ proprietary oncoFISH® cervical test, a laboratory developed test for cervical cancer prevention.

10 Dec 2009

Clinical trial results demonstrate greater efficacy of nilotinib over imatinib for Ph+ CML

In a large clinical trial, nilotinib demonstrated greater efficacy over the current gold standard treatment, imatinib, in adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (Ph+ CML) in the chronic phase.

9 Dec 2009

CML patients on nilotinib or dasatinib drug achieve better response than imatinib drug

Two medications approved as treatment for drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia continue to provide patients with quicker, better responses as a first treatment than the existing front-line drug, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reported at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

8 Dec 2009

Positive data from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals' ongoing AP24534 study in advanced hematological cancer patients

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive clinical data from an ongoing Phase 1 study of its investigational, pan-BCR-ABL inhibitor, AP24534, in patients with advanced hematological cancers.

8 Dec 2009

New genetic approach may hold promise for sickle cell disease

A new genetic approach to treating sickle cell disease is showing promising results in mice, report researchers from Children's Hospital Boston. By inactivating a gene they previously discovered to be important in the laboratory, they were able to boost production of a healthy fetal form of hemoglobin in the mice, potentially compensating for the defective adult hemoglobin that causes red blood cells to "sickle" and obstruct blood flow.

8 Dec 2009

Animal study demonstrates how whole chromosome changes cause cancer

Mayo Clinic researchers have proven the longstanding theory that changes in the number of whole chromosomes -- called aneuploidy -- can cause cancer by eliminating tumor suppressor genes.

8 Dec 2009

Phase II clinical trial results reveal positive effects of omacetaxine against CML

Results from a phase II clinical trial indicate a novel drug may provide a treatment option for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients who do not respond to current therapies, researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

8 Dec 2009

New findings may yield more effective therapies for infants with blood cancer

Pediatric oncologists have identified specific genes, dubbed partner genes, that fuse with another gene to drive an often-fatal form of leukemia in infants. By more accurately defining specific partner genes, researchers expect to better predict which infants may benefit from particular treatments.

7 Dec 2009

New study reveals genetic alteration can lead to severe childhood obesity

Scientists in Cambridge have discovered that the loss of a key segment of DNA can lead to severe childhood obesity. This is the first study to show that this kind of genetic alteration can cause obesity. The results are published today in Nature.

6 Dec 2009

New treatment options for leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders introduced

Leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders are serious and often deadly blood cancers. Research presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology introduces potential new treatment options and improved diagnostic methods for patients suffering from acute promyelocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelofibrosis that are based on a better understanding of the underlying genetic causes of these conditions.

6 Dec 2009

IMF to stage presentation on multiple myeloma at ASH annual meeting

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF)—supporting research and providing education, advocacy and support for myeloma patients, families, researchers and physicians—today said presentations at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) will cover all stages of multiple myeloma, a major milestone in treating this and related cancers.

4 Dec 2009

Researchers discover mechanism that explains how chromosomal translocations are not random

Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine have pinpointed a mechanism that may help explain how chromosomal translocations - the supposedly random shuffling of large chunks of DNA that frequently lead to cancer - aren't so random after all. They have developed a model of such chromosomal mix-ups in prostate cancer which indicates that the male sex hormone (androgen) receptor unexpectedly plays a key role in driving specific translocations in the development of cancer.

4 Dec 2009

More than 80 abstracts highlighting Bristol-Myers Squibb's oncology compound to be presented

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced that more than 80 abstracts highlighting compounds from the company’s oncology portfolio will be presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to be held December 5-8 in New Orleans.

3 Dec 2009

Chromosome 4 News and Research

Further Reading

Human protein may help prevent H1N1 infection

Landmark study provides new insight into congenital heart defects

Genes work together by huddling in clusters inside nucleus, research reveals

Results from five new studies on Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer test announced

Study may help in treating sex differentiation disorders in children

Researchers discover new explanation for differences in severity of mental illness in males

Tasigna demonstrates greater efficacy over Gleevec in chronic Ph+ CML patients

Enzo Biochem and Ikonisys sign agreement to market molecular-based cervical cancer test

Clinical trial results demonstrate greater efficacy of nilotinib over imatinib for Ph+ CML

CML patients on nilotinib or dasatinib drug achieve better response than imatinib drug

Positive data from ARIAD Pharmaceuticals' ongoing AP24534 study in advanced hematological cancer patients

New genetic approach may hold promise for sickle cell disease

Animal study demonstrates how whole chromosome changes cause cancer

Phase II clinical trial results reveal positive effects of omacetaxine against CML

New findings may yield more effective therapies for infants with blood cancer

New study reveals genetic alteration can lead to severe childhood obesity

New treatment options for leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders introduced

IMF to stage presentation on multiple myeloma at ASH annual meeting

Researchers discover mechanism that explains how chromosomal translocations are not random

More than 80 abstracts highlighting Bristol-Myers Squibb's oncology compound to be presented

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