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.

EpiCept provides business update and fourth-quarter financial highlights

EpiCept Corporation today announced operating and financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009, and provided an update on Ceplene® and several of the Company’s key product candidates.

25 Feb 2010

New Barts Cancer Research UK Centre launched

A new cancer centre, launched today, puts London at the forefront of cancer research.

23 Feb 2010

Epicept issues amendment for reduction in company's quorum requirement

EpiCept Corporation announced today that on February 11, 2010, the Board of Directors of EpiCept Corporation adopted an amendment to the company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws to provide that a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company shall consist of the holders of one third of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.

23 Feb 2010

Cord Blood America announces aim to be world's largest stem cell storage facility

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, for families nationwide and internationally, said today in an interview of Matthew Schissler, co-founder and CEO, by analyst Francis Gaskins, that its goal is to be the world's largest stem cell storage facility.

22 Feb 2010

Researchers develop new tool to understand how cancer grows

Researchers have a new tool to understand how cancers grow -- and with it a new opportunity to identify novel cancer drugs. They've been able to break apart human prostate tissue, extract the stem cells in that tissue, and alter those cells genetically so that they spur cancer.

22 Feb 2010

Scientists develop new mathematical model to understand CML better

Doctors can now understand better chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), including how it responds to therapy, thanks to a new mathematical model for the disease, developed by scientists in Portugal, Belgium and the United States. The work, to be published in the June edition of the journal Haematologica, also reveals that current therapies - which are not believed to cure CML - with the right protocol can actually get rid of the disease, and provides guidelines on how to do that.

21 Feb 2010

US scientists develop new technique to track the progression of cancer

US scientists have developed a new technique that allows them to track the progression of a person's cancer by uncovering changes in their tumour's genetic material.

19 Feb 2010

Genoptix signs multi-year licensing agreement with HistoRx for AQUA technology

Genoptix, Inc., a specialized laboratory service provider, and HistoRx, Inc. (privately held), a diagnostics company, today announced a multi-year licensing agreement for AQUA® technology and several diagnostic assays based on it.

19 Feb 2010

Novartis' Tasigna capsules granted priority review by FDA for treatment of adult patients with Ph+ CML

Novartis announced today that Tasigna® (nilotinib) 200 mg capsules has been granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

19 Feb 2010

MEMC Foundation donates $25,000 to MFK to save lives of Haiti's malnourished children

The MEMC Foundation, a charitable foundation funded by MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., has donated $25,000 to Meds & Food for Kids. MFK is a St. Louis-based charity dedicated to saving the lives of Haiti's malnourished children and other nutritionally vulnerable people.

19 Feb 2010

Researchers find gene mutations that may provide clues for treating AML patients

Although leukemia is one of the best studied cancers, the cause of some types is still poorly understood. Now, a newly found mutation in acute myeloid leukemia patients could account for half of the remaining cases of adult acute leukemia with an unknown origin.

19 Feb 2010

FDA approves Rituxan-FC combination therapy for CLL

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, and Biogen Idec announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rituxan® (rituximab) in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) for people with previously untreated and previously treated CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

18 Feb 2010

Rituxan, intended for patients with CLL receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Rituxan (rituximab) to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing blood and bone marrow cancer.

18 Feb 2010

Aprea's AML treatment receives EMEA recommendation for orphan drug status

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommends orphan drug status for Aprea's treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The treatment is currently undergoing a Phase I clinical study and a final decision from the European Commission regarding status is expected in a few weeks. Aprea is part of the Karolinska Development portfolio.

18 Feb 2010

Phase III data reveals potential of Merck’s GARDASIL in preventing HPV and HPV-related cancers

Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that in new Phase III data, GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] was 77.5 percent (95 percent CI: 39.6, 93.3) efficacious against anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in 16-to-26 year-old men who have sex with men. The data were presented at the European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN) conference in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

18 Feb 2010

NCI's NCL to conduct characterization studies of Celator Pharmaceuticals' HDPN formulation

Celator Pharmaceuticals today announced that the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), operated by SAIC-Frederick (Frederick, Maryland), has agreed to conduct characterization studies to advance the development of the company's nanoparticle drug formulation technology.

18 Feb 2010

Media examine fight against counterfeit drugs

The Wall Street Journal reports on the recent shutdown of a counterfeit drug ring in Syria, while highlighting a broader problem with counterfeit medicines in the Middle East. Authorities intercepted "millions of dollars worth of breast cancer, leukemia and other medicines … At least 65 people were detained; it couldn't be learned if they were charged. A trial date hasn't yet been set," according to the newspaper, which notes that the drug ring distributor's activities had also penetrated into some public health systems, "particularly in Iraq."

18 Feb 2010

XMRV infection is not linked to chronic fatigue syndrome

Researchers investigating UK samples have found no association between the controversial xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

17 Feb 2010

Rhubarb may have anti-cancer properties, but more research needed

Rhubarb contains natural chemicals called polyphenols that have been shown to kill cancer cells in the lab, or prevent their growth. Baking appears to greatly increase the levels of these chemicals, UK scientists have found, but Cancer Research UK cautioned against reading too much into these results.

17 Feb 2010

EntreMed's ENMD-2076 for AML receives FDA's orphan drug designation

EntreMed, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for the Company's lead oncology drug candidate, ENMD-2076, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

16 Feb 2010