Leukemia News and Research

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Leukemia (Leukaemia) is a cancer of the blood cells. It is the most common type of blood cancer and affects 10 times as many adults as children. Most people diagnosed with leukemia are over 50 years old. No one knows why some people develop leukemia and others do not. However, scientists have identified some risk factors for the disease. Most people who have known risk factors do not get leukemia, while many who do get the disease have none of these risk factors. During the early stages of leukemia, there may be no symptoms. Many of the symptoms of leukemia don't become apparent until a large number of normal blood cells are crowded out by leukemia cells.

Updated results from Amgen’s blinatumomab Phase 2 study on ALL

Amgen today announced updated results from a Phase 2 study that showed treatment with blinatumomab (AMG 103) helped achieve a high-rate of complete response (CR) in 72 percent of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated in the study.

17 May 2012

Ibrutinib shows promise against CLL in the elderly

The experimental drug ibrutinib (PCI-32765) shows great promise for the treatment of elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to interim findings from a clinical trial.

17 May 2012

Study identifies biomarkers that can predict recurrence of prostate cancer

Alterations to the "on-off" switches of genes occur early in the development of prostate cancer and could be used as biomarkers to detect the disease months or even years earlier than current approaches, a Mayo Clinic study has found.

15 May 2012

MicroRNA-3151 a new independent prognostic marker for acute leukemia

A study has identified microRNA-3151 as a new independent prognostic marker in certain patients with acute leukemia. The study involves patients with acute myeloid leukemia and normal-looking chromosomes.

15 May 2012

Chronic asthma sufferers may have new hope for relief due to two BWH research studies

Chronic asthma sufferers may have new hope for relief due to two new research studies that are getting underway at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). Researchers from BWH's Asthma Research Center are exploring whether two new therapies will relieve asthma symptoms.

14 May 2012

NEJM publishes results from Celgene’s REVLIMID phase III studies on MM

Celgene International Sàrl, a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation, today announced that results from three phase III studies evaluating the use of continuous REVLIMID(lenalidomide) treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients or maintenance treatment with lenalidomide following autologous stem cell transplant were published online in the May 10, 2012 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

11 May 2012

Trovagene receives European patent titled, ‘Methods for Detection of Nucleic Acid Sequences in Urine’

Trovagene, Inc., a developer of trans-renal molecular diagnostics, announced it has received notice of issuance of European Patent No. 2216416 entitled "Methods for Detection of Nucleic Acid Sequences in Urine."

11 May 2012

$Onconova advances rigosertib into new Phase II study for refractory MDS$

Onconova advances rigosertib into new Phase II study for refractory MDS

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., announced today the advancement of the oral formulation of rigosertib, an anti-cancer agent with demonstrated activity in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, into a new Phase II study. The intravenous (IV) formulation of rigosertib is currently in a pivotal Phase III trial for refractory myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the U.S. and EU.

11 May 2012

Lenalidomide improves overall survival for patients with multiple myeloma

Data from the first large U.S. study assessing the effectiveness of long-term "maintenance" therapy with lenalidomide for patients with multiple myeloma show that the drug significantly improves the time to progression and overall survival for patients with this often-deadly hematologic cancer.

10 May 2012

New non-embryonic stem cell treatment for cancer and leukaemia

A monumental discovery that provides the promise of a cure not only for leukaemia, but cancer at large was announced this morning in London during GIL 2012: Europe. Steve Shor, the founder of the National Children's Leukemia Foundation, a leading non-profit organisation in the United States, unveiled a ground-breaking therapy his research teams in the United States and Israel have discovered.

10 May 2012

Inovio first quarter total revenue decreases to $1.7 million

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

10 May 2012

Halozyme first quarter net loss increases to $15.1 million

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

8 May 2012

Researchers discover CD19 pathway that leads to lymphoma

Researchers studying the molecular signals that drive a specific type of lymphoma have discovered a key biological pathway leading to this type of cancer. Cancerous cells have been described as being "addicted" to certain oncogenes (cancer-causing genes), and the new research may lay the groundwork for breaking that addiction and effectively treating aggressive types of B cell lymphoma.

8 May 2012

A test to predict breast cancer many years before the disease is diagnosed

Ultimately the findings, in the journal Cancer Research, could lead to a simple blood test to screen women, they say. The test looks for how genes are altered by environmental factors like alcohol and hormones - a process known as epigenetics. One in five women is thought to have such a genetic “switch” that doubles breast cancer risk say researchers.

3 May 2012

PRDM16 transcription co-factor plays a critical role in development of embryonic palate

In the United States, a baby is born with a facial cleft every hour, of every day of the year! Such birth defects result from both gene mutations and environmental insults. PRDM16 is a transcription factor originally described as being aberrantly activated in specific types of leukemia's, and more recently as a master regulator of brown adipose tissue differentiation.

3 May 2012

Inovio's SynCon vaccine for cervical dysplasias and cancers granted U.S. patent

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted U.S. Patent No. 8,168,769, covering Inovio's SynCon vaccine for cervical dysplasias and cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

2 May 2012

Gilead commences GS-1101 Phase 3 trial in CLL

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of GS-1101.

2 May 2012

FANCM gene plays key role in recombination of genetic information during inheritance

Scientists of KIT and the University of Birmingham have identified relevant new functions of a gene that plays a crucial role in Fanconi anemia, a life-threatening disease. The FANCM gene is known to be important for the stability of the genome.

30 Apr 2012

Protein vital for cell survival and immune balance has another form with different function

Research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators suggests that safeguarding cell survival and maintaining a balanced immune system is just the start of the myeloid cell leukemia sequence 1 (MCL1) protein's work.

30 Apr 2012

Trovagene completes PCR assay development for detection of K-RAS mutations

Trovagene, Inc., a developer of trans-renal molecular diagnostics, announced today that the Company has successfully completed the analytical development of digital PCR assays for the detection of the most prevalent K-RAS mutations, which are, according to recent estimates, observed in more than 90% of pancreatic cancers, and in 23% of all solid tumors.

30 Apr 2012