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.

Researchers identify genetic conspirators underlying acute myeloid leukaemia

Researchers have described how the most common gene mutation found in acute myeloid leukaemia starts the process of cancer development and how it can cooperate with a well-defined group of other mutations to cause full-blown leukaemia.

28 Mar 2011

Study develops new approaches for sorting out complexities of cancer cells

New drugs that specifically target the mutated genes responsible for cancer growth have shown great success in extending the lives of patients, with far fewer side effects than conventional anti-cancer therapies. Unfortunately, many patients become resistant to these drugs due to secondary mutations.

25 Mar 2011

Sequencing mouse cancer genome reveals mutations driving cancer in humans

Scientists who pioneered sequencing the genomes of cancer patients to find novel genetic changes at the root of the disease now have turned their attention to a laboratory workhorse — a mouse.

24 Mar 2011

KaloBios commences KB004 Phase 1 trial in patients with leukemia

KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, today announced treatment of the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial of KB004, its first-in-class Humaneered™ monoclonal antibody, in EphA3-expressing hematologic malignancies.

24 Mar 2011

New insights into cancer genome may lead to designer drugs for myeloma

Patients with myeloma could benefit from ‘designer’ drugs in the future after new genome-mapping technology has allowed scientists to identify a full genetic blueprint of the mutations which drive the bone marrow cancer.

23 Mar 2011

Asuragen introduces CE-mark approved AmplideX FMR1 PCR Kit

Asuragen, Inc. announced that they have achieved CE-marking and commercial launch in Europe of the AmplideX FMR1 PCR Kit for the detection of CGG repeats in the fragile X mental retardation gene.

23 Mar 2011

Cellerant commences CLT-008 Phase I/II trial in patients with leukemia

Cellerant Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel hematopoietic stem cell-based cellular and antibody therapies for blood disorders and cancer, announced the initiation of a Phase I/II clinical trial of CLT-008 in patients receiving intensive post-remission chemotherapy for high-risk leukemia or myelodysplasia.

23 Mar 2011

Scientists receive £200,000 AICR grant for stomach cancer research

Scientists in Australia have been awarded almost £200,000 from an international charity, based in Scotland, towards their research into a 'forgotten cancer.'

22 Mar 2011

Sarsia Seed provides follow-up funding for APIM Therapeutics

APIM Therapeutics AS, an early-stage Norwegian therapeutic company, is pursuing a novel drug approach with the ability to potentiate the action of a wide range of chemotherapeutic drugs currently used to treat several types of cancer.

21 Mar 2011

Life Technologies enters clinical trials for DNA SBT platform for analysis of Human Leukocyte Antigen system

Life Technologies Corporation today announced that it is the first life science tools provider entering clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of their DNA sequence-based typing (SBT) platform for analysis of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system. Submission for 510(k) clearance of this SBT platform will follow completion of the clinical trials, which is anticipated this summer.

21 Mar 2011

Polaris initiates ADI-PEG 20 Phase 2 trial in patients with malignant mesothelioma

Polaris Group announced today the enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial of ADI-PEG 20, the company's novel enzyme-based treatment for malignant mesothelioma.

19 Mar 2011

AICR awards £179,532 grant to Van Andel Research Institute for prostate cancer research

Research by scientists in America, funded by an international charity based in Scotland, could lead to new drugs for prostate cancer.

17 Mar 2011

CytRx commences INNO-206 Phase 1b trial in advanced solid tumors

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced that it has initiated an open-label Phase 1b safety and dose escalation clinical trial with INNO-206 at the Sarcoma Oncology Center in Santa Monica, California. The clinical trial will include up to 24 patients with advanced solid tumors who have failed standard therapies.

17 Mar 2011

CBAI to operate its own business strategies

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, said today the focus of the Company on a go forward basis is to operate entirely off its own cash flow.

17 Mar 2011

Inovio signs agreement with OncoSec to sell non-DNA cancer vaccine technology

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that it has signed an agreement with OncoSec Medical Inc. providing for the sale to OncoSec of certain non-DNA vaccine technology and intellectual property relating to electroporation technology useful for electrochemical and cytokine based immune therapies for treating solid tumors.

17 Mar 2011

New study: Positive outcomes from gene therapy trial in patients with Parkinson's

A multi-center gene therapy trial for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease demonstrated reduced symptoms of the progressive movement disorder, according to a new study published in Lancet Neurology.

17 Mar 2011

Skyline Diagnostics launches unique test to detect patients with AML

Each year over eight million people die of cancer worldwide. Patients' chances of survival vary widely: depending on the type of cancer involved, the stage at which it is diagnosed and the speed with which appropriate treatment is launched.

17 Mar 2011

MorphoSys inks manufacturing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim

MorphoSys AG and Boehringer Ingelheim announced today the signing of a biopharmaceutical manufacturing agreement for therapeutic antibodies. The agreement covers the process development and manufacturing of additional clinical material for MorphoSys's proprietary MOR208 program and other drug candidates. MOR208, a potent monoclonal anti-CD19 antibody, is in development for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and potentially other B-cell malignancies. The program is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial in the USA by MorphoSys's partner Xencor Inc.

16 Mar 2011

Shanghai ChemPartner signs outsource research service agreement with Shenogen Pharma

ShangPharma Corporation, a leading China-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development outsourcing company, today announced that its wholly-owned contract research subsidiary, Shanghai ChemPartner, has signed an outsource research service agreement with Shenogen Pharma Group to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting the ER-alpha 36 receptor for cancer treatment.

16 Mar 2011

TESE offers fertility to male cancer survivors

An intricate procedure that finds and carefully removes individual sperm from testicular tissue has made fathers of men who were once considered sterile due to prior cancer treatment, say researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center who pioneered the technique.

16 Mar 2011