Leukemia News and Research

RSS

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.

Daily doses of imatinib mesylate double survival rates in Ph+ ALL affected children

Results of a phase two clinical trial published October 5th in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that adding continuous daily doses of a targeted drug called imatinib mesylate to regular chemotherapy more than doubled three-year survival rates for children with a high risk type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

7 Oct 2009

Researchers show that DNA methylation plays a crucial role for cancer stem cells

During cell division, whether hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) will develop into new stem cells (self-renewal) or differentiate into other blood cells depends on a chemical process called DNA methylation.

7 Oct 2009

Combination of leukemia and breast cancer drugs inhibits cancer progression

When breast cancer spreads or metastasizes, it crashes through the body's protective fences. The disease becomes fatal when it travels outside the mammary ducts, enters the bloodstream and spreads to the bones, liver or brain.

7 Oct 2009

Scientists create new technology to improve detection of leukemia cells in bone marrow

Scientists have created a viable technology to improve the detection of leukemia cells in bone marrow.

7 Oct 2009

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center receives 60 research grants totaling nearly $40.4 million

Scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have been awarded 60 research grants totaling nearly $40.4 million under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. The totals reflect data available as of Oct. 1 and reported by the National Institutes of Health.

6 Oct 2009

Cord Blood America reduces its secured debt by $160,000

Cord Blood America, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CBAI), the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company (http://www.cordblood-america.com ) focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, said today that it has retired a note, principal amount $160,000, in its continuing effort to reduce debt.

5 Oct 2009

Registry to help patients in need of bone marrow transplants

Nearly 70 percent of patients needing a marrow transplant do not have a matching donor in their family, leaving minorities particularly vulnerable to finding a donor who can provide a perfect match of common tissue types, according to Be the Match®, a movement that engages the public to help patients in need of bone marrow or umbilical cord blood transplants.

5 Oct 2009

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance launches TheDayIFoundOut website for cancer patients

The day a person is diagnosed with cancer is one of the most difficult days of his or her life. While the Internet holds an endless supply of cancer related information, for an overwhelmed and frightened person, genuine emotional support is often hard to find. TheDayIFoundOut(TM) is an online community featuring the faces and voices of cancer survivors offering empathy, insight, advice and resources to help cancer patients take the first crucial steps toward beating their disease.

3 Oct 2009

Cord Blood America to open cryogenic research and storage laboratory in Las Vegas

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company (http://www.cordblood-america.com ) focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, said today that it is opening its new Corporate headquarters and cryogenic research and storage laboratory in Las Vegas, as planned, the first week of October.

1 Oct 2009

Membrane-bound Fas ligand is essential for cell death: Researchers

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have put an end to a 10-year debate over which form of a molecular messenger called Fas ligand is responsible for killing cells during programmed cell death (also called apoptosis).

1 Oct 2009

Gamida Cell publishes article evaluating Stemex for leukemia and lymphoma

Gamida Cell announced today the publication of an article evaluating carlecortemcel-l, the generic name of what is widely known as "StemEx", as a therapy for blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. The article, carlecortemcel-l, an ex vivo expanded umbilical cord blood cell graft for allogeneic transplantation, written by Dr. Ka Wah Chan and Dr. Demetrios Petropoulos, will be published in the November 2009 issue of Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy.

1 Oct 2009

Orphan drug designation for pixantrone applied by Cell Therapeutics

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. ("CTI") announced today that it has applied to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for orphan drug designation for pixantrone. CTI initiated the process of obtaining marketing approval in Europe in July, 2009, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL.

30 Sep 2009

New research may enhance the treatment for blood cancer in children

Acute lymphatic leukemia is the most common form of blood cancer in children. Even though chemotherapy is improving, the cancer often returns. Johan Jansson's research at Kalmar University in Sweden shows that cancer cells that have been exposed to chemotherapy and survived are less vulnerable to chemotherapy, and more aggressive as well. But this research also yielded discoveries that should be able to enhance our treatment of the disease.

30 Sep 2009

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center awards $50,000 to three young investigators

Three young investigators who have taken significant steps toward advancing the understanding of cancer will be the recipients of this year's Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, a prize awarded biennially since 2001 to scientists under the age of forty-six by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

30 Sep 2009

Researchers find new ways to treat Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) researchers are one step closer to finding new ways to treat Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a bone marrow disease that strikes up to 15,000 people each year in the United States, and that sometimes results in acute myeloid leukemia.

30 Sep 2009

Synta commences Phase 1/2 clinical study of novel Hsp90 inhibitor in hematologic malignancies

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that it has initiated a Phase 1/2 clinical study of its novel heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, STA-9090 in hematologic malignancies with a once-a-week dosing schedule.

29 Sep 2009

Winners of Paul Marks Prize 2009

29 Sep 2009

NECBB reports cord blood banking is on the rise

New England Cord Blood Bank, Inc. (NECBB), a global cord blood processing and storage facility, announced today that the company has seen a consistent and robust increase in the cord blood units being used for transplants within the past few years.

29 Sep 2009

UK scientists discover new route by which leukaemia develops

CANCER RESEARCH UK SCIENTISTS have discovered a completely new route by which leukaemia develops, according to research published in Nature.

28 Sep 2009

NSERC awards $5M grant to develop faster detection methods for cancer

A nanomedicine research group led by a University of Toronto chemist has received a $5-million grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), giving them the green light to develop faster ways of detecting leukemia and lung cancer cells.

28 Sep 2009

Leukemia News and Research

Further Reading

Daily doses of imatinib mesylate double survival rates in Ph+ ALL affected children

Researchers show that DNA methylation plays a crucial role for cancer stem cells

Combination of leukemia and breast cancer drugs inhibits cancer progression

Scientists create new technology to improve detection of leukemia cells in bone marrow

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center receives 60 research grants totaling nearly $40.4 million

Cord Blood America reduces its secured debt by $160,000

Registry to help patients in need of bone marrow transplants

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance launches TheDayIFoundOut website for cancer patients

Cord Blood America to open cryogenic research and storage laboratory in Las Vegas

Membrane-bound Fas ligand is essential for cell death: Researchers

Gamida Cell publishes article evaluating Stemex for leukemia and lymphoma

Orphan drug designation for pixantrone applied by Cell Therapeutics

New research may enhance the treatment for blood cancer in children

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center awards $50,000 to three young investigators

Researchers find new ways to treat Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Synta commences Phase 1/2 clinical study of novel Hsp90 inhibitor in hematologic malignancies

Winners of Paul Marks Prize 2009

NECBB reports cord blood banking is on the rise

UK scientists discover new route by which leukaemia develops

NSERC awards $5M grant to develop faster detection methods for cancer

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Latest News