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.

Study shows how Notch gene and PRC2 protein complex work together to cause T-ALL

A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine by NYU Cancer Institute researchers, shows how the cancer causing gene Notch, in combination with a mutated Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) protein complex, work together to cause T- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

13 Jan 2012

Kedem commences development of Gleevec to treat CML in children and adults

Kedem Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company with focus on sublingual drug delivery system is pleased to announce that has initiated the development of Gleevec.

12 Jan 2012

First details of genetic alterations that fuel early T-cell precursor ALL

Researchers have discovered that a subtype of leukemia characterized by a poor prognosis is fueled by mutations in pathways distinctly different from a seemingly similar leukemia associated with a much better outcome. The findings from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP) highlight a possible new strategy for treating patients with this more aggressive cancer.

12 Jan 2012

Chemotherapy drugs can lead to relapse of leukemia

The chemotherapy drugs required to push a common form of adult leukemia into remission may contribute to DNA damage that can lead to a relapse of the disease in some patients, findings of a new study suggest.

12 Jan 2012

St. Jude introduces 'Explore' website for pediatric genome project

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has launched a freely available website for published research results from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP). The PCGP is the largest effort to date aimed at sequencing the entire genomes of both normal and cancer cells from pediatric cancer patients, comparing differences in the DNA to identify genetic mistakes that lead to childhood cancers.

12 Jan 2012

Researchers identify mechanism that makes retinoblastoma so aggressive

New findings from the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project (PCGP) have helped identify the mechanism that makes the childhood eye tumor retinoblastoma so aggressive. The discovery explains why the tumor develops so rapidly while other cancers can take years or even decades to form.

11 Jan 2012

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation names 18 new Fellows

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting innovative early career researchers, named 18 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its fall Fellowship Award Committee review.

11 Jan 2012

Research identifies several new means to potentially target cancer

Scientists at the University of Leicester have opened up a whole new approach to the therapeutic intervention for a family of anti-cancer drug targets, thanks to a completely new and unexpected finding.

11 Jan 2012

New UC San Diego-Roche Extending Innovation Network program launched

The new UC San Diego-Roche Extending Innovation Network (EIN) program has been launched with selection of its first three research projects at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

11 Jan 2012

Sangamo BioSciences starts Phase 2 clinical studies to develop functional cure for HIV/AIDS

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced today the initiation of two new Phase 2 clinical studies (SB-728-1101 and SB-728-902, Cohort 5) in its program to develop a "functional cure" for HIV/AIDS.

9 Jan 2012

BioCells opens new franchise headquartered in Campinas, Brazil

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally, announced today that Biocordcell Argentina S.A. is opening a new franchise headquartered in Campinas, Brazil, a city of more than one million in the state of Sao Paulo.

9 Jan 2012

BerGenBio completes $8.8M Series A financing round

BerGenBio AS, an emerging oncology biopharma company, today announced it has completed an $8.8 million Series A financing round. The financing will be used primarily to take lead compound BGB324 into clinical trials and to develop a companion diagnostic.

9 Jan 2012

Ipswitch announces lead sponsorship for Annual Resolution Run to Kick Cancer 5k Road Race

Ipswitch, Inc. is pleased to announce that for the second straight year, it is the Elite Sponsor for the Annual Resolution Run to Kick Cancer 5k Road Race. The Resolution Run to Kick Cancer (RR2KC) is a Lexington-MA based non-profit organization and its mission is "to help those that are fighting cancer and their families and to promote healthy lifestyles in our community."

7 Jan 2012

AccuGenomics to participate in OneMedForum at Sir Francis Drake hotel

AccuGenomics announced today that it will be attending the upcoming OneMedForum at the Sir Francis Drake hotel in San Francisco on January 9-12, coinciding with the JP Morgan Global Healthcare Conference.

7 Jan 2012

TrovaGene enters definitive agreement to acquire MultiGEN

TrovaGene, Inc., a developer of trans-renal molecular diagnostics, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire MultiGEN Diagnostics, Inc.'s clinical laboratory assets in exchange for the issuance of 750,000 shares of common stock of TrovaGene, with an additional earn-out of up to $3.7 million in cash and common stock, subject to the achievement of specific sales and earnings targets.

6 Jan 2012

TrovaGene acquires license to mutations of SF3B1 splicing factor in CLL

TrovaGene, Inc., a developer of trans-renal molecular diagnostics, today announced that it has obtained an exclusive worldwide license to mutations of the SF3B1 splicing factor, which have been shown to be associated with disease progression and chemotherapy response in patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

3 Jan 2012