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.

Inotuzumab ozogamicin achieves over 50% response rate against acute lymphoblastic leukemia

An antibody packaged with a potent chemotherapy drug to selectively destroy acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells eradicated or greatly reduced the disease for 61 percent of 46 patients in a phase II study. It will be presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago June 3-7.

24 May 2011

Micromet's blinatumomab data to be presented at two upcoming medical meetings

Micromet, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of next-generation antibodies for the treatment of cancer, today announced that data on its lead product candidate blinatumomab will be reported at two upcoming medical meetings.

23 May 2011

New technique can detect minute traces of tumoral DNA in biological fluids

It will perhaps be possible, in the near future, to detect cancer by a simple blood or urine test. In fact, biologists from CNRS, Inserm, Paris Descartes and Strasbourg universities have developed a technique capable of detecting minute traces of tumoral DNA present in the biological fluids of patients suffering from cancer.

23 May 2011

New insights into bone diseases

A study by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and collaborators at other institutions has provided new insights into the means by which bone cells produce new bone in response to mechanical stresses, such as exercise.

23 May 2011

Global scientists rebuke coming decision on carcinogenicity of radiofrequency and microwaves

In collaboration with the International EMF Alliance (IEMFA), scientists from Europe, North America, Australia and Israel have sent an Open Letter to Dr. Christopher Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), calling for a postponement of the forthcoming meeting May 24-31, 2011 in Lyon, France, “Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part II: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field [includes mobile telephones],” at which determination of the carcinogenicity of cell phones and wireless technologies will be made.

22 May 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb to present abstracts on oncology compounds at ASCO 2011 Annual Meeting

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a leading global BioPharma company in oncology, today announced that more than 95 scientific abstracts on its approved and investigational oncology compounds will be featured at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago from June 3-7.

21 May 2011

Study examines long-term GI complications in childhood cancer survivors

Individuals who are treated for cancer during childhood have a significantly higher risk of developing gastrointestinal complications - from mild to severe - later in life, according to a study led by the University of California, San Francisco. The findings underscore the need for childhood cancer survivors and their physicians to be aware of these risk factors to ensure patients' ongoing health care needs are met.

21 May 2011

International team identifies key protein in development of drug-resistant leukemia

Now an international team led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and joined by scientists of the Freiburg excellence cluster BIOSS - Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, has identified a protein called BCL6 which plays a key role in the development of drug-resistance in leukemia.

20 May 2011

New technique offers successful bone marrow, organ transplant for patients with autoimmune diseases

University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have discovered a method to quickly and exponentially grow regulatory T-cells - also known as "suppressor cells." The new process enables replication of the cells by tens of millions in several weeks, a dramatic increase over previous duplication methods. Historically, regulatory T-cells have been difficult to replicate.

19 May 2011

Scientists identify key protein behind drug-resistant leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, is the most common form of childhood cancer. While most children treated for this disease survive, in a subgroup of patients the disease does not respond to treatment.

19 May 2011

A new gene expression analysis technique on a single molecule sequencer

A new gene expression technique adapted for single molecule sequencing has enabled researchers at the RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC) to accurately and quantitatively measure gene expression levels using only 100 nanograms of total RNA. The technique, which pairs RIKEN's Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) protocol with the Helicos(R) Genetic Analysis System developed by Helicos BioSciences Corporation, opens the door to the detailed analysis of gene expression networks and rare cell populations. In recent years, next-generation DNA sequencers have produced an increasingly detailed picture of how genes are expressed at the molecular level. The transcriptional output of these genes - the RNA copies produced from DNA - has revealed a richness of complexity in transcript structure and function, providing insights into the molecular-level properties of cancers and other diseases.

19 May 2011

Biothera begins dosing in Imprime PGG and cetuximab combination Phase III trial for colorectal cancer

Biothera began dosing patients today in a Phase III trial evaluating Imprime PGG in combination with cetuximab as a potential new treatment for recurrent or progressive KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer.

19 May 2011

Oak Point students raise $42,474.24 to combat cancer

Penny by penny, students at Oak Point Intermediate School in Eden Prairie, MN, raised an incredible $42,474.24 through Pennies for Patients, making them the top fundraiser nationwide in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School & Youth Programs.

18 May 2011

JCO publishes Micromet's blinatumomab Phase 2 trial data in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Micromet, Inc. today announced that data from a Phase 2 clinical trial of the Company's lead product candidate blinatumomab in patients with minimal residual disease positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia were published in the May 16th on-line edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

18 May 2011

Cytonet receives FDA orphan drug designation for liver cell infusion to treat urea cycle disorders

International biotechnology firm Cytonet, which is investigating a liver cell infusion of donated human liver cells for the treatment of urea cycle disorders in young children, announced it has been granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

18 May 2011

Cellular 'mechanic' keeps DNA damage in check in cells

CANCER RESEARCH UK scientists have discovered how a protein in immune cells plays an essential role in their development by repairing DNA damage - and if this protein is missing lymphomas can form.

17 May 2011

Preliminary topline results from Teva, CureTech's CT-011 Phase II trial in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and CureTech, a portfolio company of Teva and Clal Biotechnology Industries announced today preliminary topline results for CT-011, an investigational anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody.

17 May 2011

Over-activation of single gene promotes leukemia, but its loss causes liver cancer

An international team of researchers, led by scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital in China, say a human gene implicated in the development of leukemia also acts to prevent cancer of the liver.

17 May 2011

CytRx sells global rights of molecular chaperone assets to Orphazyme

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced that it has sold the worldwide rights to its molecular chaperone assets to privately-held, Copenhagen, Denmark-based Orphazyme ApS.

17 May 2011

PGT, Quintiles collaborate to bring genomic testing into mainstream drug development

Quintiles, the world's leading biopharmaceutical services company, and Population Genetics Technologies Ltd., creator of innovative solutions to reduce the costs and complexity of large-scale genomic testing and enable correlations with clinical outcomes, today announced a commercial collaboration to bring genomic testing into mainstream drug development in order to produce safer, more effective medicines.

17 May 2011

Leukemia News and Research

Further Reading

Inotuzumab ozogamicin achieves over 50% response rate against acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Micromet's blinatumomab data to be presented at two upcoming medical meetings

New technique can detect minute traces of tumoral DNA in biological fluids

New insights into bone diseases

Global scientists rebuke coming decision on carcinogenicity of radiofrequency and microwaves

Bristol-Myers Squibb to present abstracts on oncology compounds at ASCO 2011 Annual Meeting

Study examines long-term GI complications in childhood cancer survivors

International team identifies key protein in development of drug-resistant leukemia

New technique offers successful bone marrow, organ transplant for patients with autoimmune diseases

Scientists identify key protein behind drug-resistant leukemia

A new gene expression analysis technique on a single molecule sequencer

Biothera begins dosing in Imprime PGG and cetuximab combination Phase III trial for colorectal cancer

Oak Point students raise $42,474.24 to combat cancer

JCO publishes Micromet's blinatumomab Phase 2 trial data in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Cytonet receives FDA orphan drug designation for liver cell infusion to treat urea cycle disorders

Cellular 'mechanic' keeps DNA damage in check in cells

Preliminary topline results from Teva, CureTech's CT-011 Phase II trial in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Over-activation of single gene promotes leukemia, but its loss causes liver cancer

CytRx sells global rights of molecular chaperone assets to Orphazyme

PGT, Quintiles collaborate to bring genomic testing into mainstream drug development

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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