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.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals commences Phase 2 clinical study evaluating KRX-0401 for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical study to evaluate KRX-0401 (perifosine) as a single agent treatment for relapsed or refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL).

8 Oct 2009

New cancer drugs boost drug spending

Cancer treatments are on track to become the biggest driver of specialty pharmacy spending as its contribution to overall drug spending hit five percent for the first time in the first half of 2009, according to Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

8 Oct 2009

Study suggest childhood cancer survivors are less likely to get married

Childhood cancer survivors typically suffer from the long-term effects of cancer treatment on physical health, and results of a new study suggest that social implications also exist, which may affect their chance of an "I do" at the altar.

8 Oct 2009

NIH grants over $3.8 million to Asuragen

Asuragen, Inc. announced today that it has received over $3.8 million in new grant funding for 2009 from the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded initiatives of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to further its development of molecular diagnostics for oncology and genetic disease.

8 Oct 2009

Panel Intelligence expands patient focused market research service

Panel Intelligence, LLC, is pleased to announce expanded capabilities for patient focused market research. For 10 years, Panel Intelligence has provided actionable market intelligence in the form of primary research from clinicians and other healthcare professionals.

7 Oct 2009

Cord Blood America reduces its debt by $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2009

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 has reduced its debt by a total of $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2009. Total debt eliminated in 2009 is $8.7 million.

7 Oct 2009

FDA provides Genzyme a complete response letter for Clolar NDA

Genzyme Corporation announced today that the FDA provided a complete response letter regarding the company's supplemental New Drug Application for Clolar® (clofarabine) in previously untreated older adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and at least one unfavorable baseline prognostic factor. The agency recommended a randomized, controlled clinical study be conducted for label expansion of Clolar in this indication.

7 Oct 2009

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

Leukemia News and Research

Further Reading

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals commences Phase 2 clinical study evaluating KRX-0401 for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

New cancer drugs boost drug spending

Study suggest childhood cancer survivors are less likely to get married

NIH grants over $3.8 million to Asuragen

Panel Intelligence expands patient focused market research service

Cord Blood America reduces its debt by $3.7 million in the third quarter of 2009

FDA provides Genzyme a complete response letter for Clolar NDA

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

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st 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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