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.

Complete Genomics, SAIC-Frederick collaborate to validate somatic mutations from pediatric cancer cases

Complete Genomics Inc., a life sciences company focused on human genome sequencing, today announced a collaboration to identify and validate somatic mutations from 50 pediatric cancer cases from multiple research centers across the United States.

7 Sep 2010

CytRx commences PROACT Phase 2 clinical trial of bafetinib for advanced prostate cancer

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced initiation of the PROstate Advanced Cancer Treatment (PROACT) Phase 2 proof-of-concept clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bafetinib in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

7 Sep 2010

RA synthetic derivative 4-HPR's ability to induce tumour cell death

Retinoic acid (RA), a natural derivative of vitamin A, is the basis of a number of treatments against cancer. Nevertheless, it has certain disadvantages, such as the possibility of the appearance of retinoic acid syndrome, present in 25 % of cases and which can lead to death. The development of 4-HPR, a synthetic derivative of RA, has meant a considerable advance due to its greater efficacy compared to its predecessor.

7 Sep 2010

New VA regulation helps to get recognition, treatment for three disorders in Agent Orange exposure

A new VA regulation adding three health conditions to the list of those presumed to have been caused by exposure to the toxic defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War was published this week. Pending a 60-day congressional review, the regulation will make some 200,000 veterans eligible for VA benefits over the next year and a half.

4 Sep 2010

Study finds acupuncture can control side effects of cancer treatment

Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can help control a number of symptoms and side effects such as pain, fatigue, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting associated with a variety of cancers and their treatments.

3 Sep 2010

Research on immune system can develop new therapy for inflammation, tumors

In two closely related studies, two teams of Scripps Research Institute scientists have discovered the underlying mechanisms that activate a type of immune cell in the skin and other organs. The findings may lead to the development of new therapies to treat inflammation, wounds, asthma, and malignant tumors.

3 Sep 2010

St. Jude Doctors and scientists work together to improve survival rates for childhood cancer

Survival rates overall for childhood cancer are almost 80 percent—a marked advance against a disease that was curable in only a small fraction of children 50 years ago. However, despite progress, pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death due to disease among U.S. children older than 1 year of age.

3 Sep 2010

Agent Orange cases expanded; Added costs raise fiscal concerns

Hundreds of thousands of Vietnam War veterans are receiving disability compensation for diseases normally associated with aging - not combat - because of the possibility of a link Agent Orange exposure. The diseases in question range from diabetes, for which 270,000 veterans receive Agent Orange-related checks, to erectile dysfunction.

2 Sep 2010

Cellerant Therapeutics signs contract with BARDA to develop CLT-008 therapy for ARS

Cellerant Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel hematopoietic stem cell-based cellular and antibody therapies for blood disorders and cancer, announced today that it has signed a contract valued at up to $153 million over five years with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response of the Department of Health and Human Services, to develop CLT-008, a cellular therapy for the treatment of Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS).

2 Sep 2010

Asuragen launches KRAS, BRAF mutational testing in CLIA laboratory

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and nucleic acid-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has launched KRAS and BRAF mutational testing services in its CAP-accredited CLIA laboratory.

2 Sep 2010

Celator Pharmaceuticals raises $20 million in Series D private equity financing

Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company developing new and more effective therapies to treat cancer based on the company's proprietary technology, today announced that it raised $20 million in a Series D private equity financing.

2 Sep 2010

VA prepares to expand Agent Orange related claims for Vietnam veterans

The Washington Post: "The Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing for more than 150,000 Vietnam War veterans to apply for benefits in the next 18 months thanks to new regulations making it easier to compensate for health problems caused by exposure to the Vietnam-era defoliant Agent Orange. Changes set for publication in Tuesday's Federal Register could result in payouts of about $42 billion in the next decade, VA said.

2 Sep 2010

NewYork-Presbyterian /Columbia sets up new Myelodysplastic Syndromes Center

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center has established a new center devoted to research and treatment of pre-leukemia blood disorders. Known as the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Center, it is one of the largest programs of its kind in the nation.

31 Aug 2010

Final regulation to aid Veterans exposed to herbicides published in 'Federal Register'

Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to access quality health care and qualify for disability compensation under a final regulation that will be published on August 31, 2010 in the Federal Register by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The new rule expands the list of health problems VA will presume to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures to add two new conditions and expand one existing category of conditions.

31 Aug 2010

Roche's MabThera continues to dwarf recently launched monoclonal antibodies: Report

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 41 percent of surveyed European hematologist-oncologists say that the favorable efficacy profile of Roche's MabThera (rituximab) is the most significant driver of their use of this brand, while 26 percent say MabThera's favorable risk-benefit profile is the most significant driver.

31 Aug 2010

Jenevieve Fisher to launch book on children living with cancer

Jenevieve Fisher is a children's author with specific expertise in childhood cancer. Her first book "I'm a Kid Living with Cancer" will be launched during September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness month.

30 Aug 2010

Cord Blood America announces Quality Service Guarantee for stem cell engraft

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, to families nationwide and internationally, today announced a $50,000 Quality Service Guarantee.

27 Aug 2010

V Foundation Wine Celebration raises fund for cancer research

The 12th Annual Wine Celebration benefitting The V Foundation took place August 6&7 in Napa Valley, raising $2.2 million for cancer research. The event, a signature fundraiser for sportscaster/coach Jim Valvano's eponymous foundation, has raised more than $35 million since 1998.

27 Aug 2010

FDA grants LFB's recombinant anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody orphan drug status for CLL

The recombinant anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody produced by LFB Biotechnologies received orphan drug status for the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). This approval from the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development was granted on August 6th, 2010.

26 Aug 2010

Fox Chase Cancer Center to host Philadelphia Chromosome Symposium

In celebration of a seminal discovery in cancer biology, Fox Chase Cancer Center will host the Philadelphia Chromosome Symposium: Past, Present and Future, on September 28, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the first genetic abnormality associated with cancer, and the first to lead to a targeted therapy for cancer.

25 Aug 2010

Leukemia News and Research

Further Reading

Complete Genomics, SAIC-Frederick collaborate to validate somatic mutations from pediatric cancer cases

CytRx commences PROACT Phase 2 clinical trial of bafetinib for advanced prostate cancer

RA synthetic derivative 4-HPR's ability to induce tumour cell death

New VA regulation helps to get recognition, treatment for three disorders in Agent Orange exposure

Study finds acupuncture can control side effects of cancer treatment

Research on immune system can develop new therapy for inflammation, tumors

St. Jude Doctors and scientists work together to improve survival rates for childhood cancer

Agent Orange cases expanded; Added costs raise fiscal concerns

Cellerant Therapeutics signs contract with BARDA to develop CLT-008 therapy for ARS

Asuragen launches KRAS, BRAF mutational testing in CLIA laboratory

Celator Pharmaceuticals raises $20 million in Series D private equity financing

VA prepares to expand Agent Orange related claims for Vietnam veterans

NewYork-Presbyterian /Columbia sets up new Myelodysplastic Syndromes Center

Final regulation to aid Veterans exposed to herbicides published in 'Federal Register'

Roche's MabThera continues to dwarf recently launched monoclonal antibodies: Report

Jenevieve Fisher to launch book on children living with cancer

Cord Blood America announces Quality Service Guarantee for stem cell engraft

V Foundation Wine Celebration raises fund for cancer research

FDA grants LFB's recombinant anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody orphan drug status for CLL

Fox Chase Cancer Center to host Philadelphia Chromosome Symposium

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

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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