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.

Antiviral T cells safe, effective as off-the-shelf therapy for painful complication after stem cell transplants

A Phase II trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that BK virus (BKV)-specific T cells from healthy donors were safe and effective as an off-the-shelf therapy for BKV-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC), a painful complication common after allogeneic stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia or lymphoma.

30 Apr 2021

New study reveals mechanisms that result in lethal COVID-19

A new study is drawing the most detailed picture yet of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung, revealing mechanisms that result in lethal COVID-19, and may explain long-term complications and show how COVID-19 differs from other infectious diseases.

30 Apr 2021

Novel compound in avocados may offer a route to better leukemia treatment

A compound in avocados may ultimately offer a route to better leukemia treatment, says a new University of Guelph study.

29 Apr 2021

Immunocompromised children and young adults may experience prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection

Children and young adults with compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing cancer treatment, may experience a prolonged period of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and the extended duration of infection may increase the incidence of mutations.

29 Apr 2021

Host cell transmembrane protein MARCH8 targets lysine residues to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses

A new study deals with the inhibitory activity of a membrane protein that has broad-spectrum activity against multiple viruses, showing that this is due to its effect on cytoplasmic lysine residue incorporation into replicating virions.

26 Apr 2021

Single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine induces immunity in CML patients

Researchers in the UK have shown that a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced antibody and cellular responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who were taking tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

25 Apr 2021

Field of mathematics reveals a potential gene that causes acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Using a widely known field of mathematics designed mainly to study how digital and other forms of information are measured, stored and shared, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center say they have uncovered a likely key genetic culprit in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

21 Apr 2021

Researchers reveal a potential therapeutic strategy against T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive type of leukemia in which too many T-cell lymphoblasts, or immature white blood cells, are found in the bone marrow and blood.

20 Apr 2021

Screening drug candidates for COVID-19 treatment using computational methods

Researchers identified two potential drug candidates that can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Their combination can work synergistically and increase their inhibitory effect.

19 Apr 2021

Yale scientists uncover common mechanism that promotes autoimmune diseases and blood cancers

In a study by Yale Cancer Center, researchers report on the discovery of a common mechanism that promotes both autoimmune diseases and blood cancers, including the blood diseases Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL).

19 Apr 2021

Studies suggest mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may have reduced efficacy in patients with blood cancer

Two new studies published in Blood suggest that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may have reduced efficacy in individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma, two types of blood cancer.

17 Apr 2021

Three teams selected to receive the first awards from Dartmouth Innovations Accelerator for Cancer

Three teams of Dartmouth researchers have been selected to receive the first awards from the Dartmouth Innovations Accelerator for Cancer.

17 Apr 2021

Researchers develop an effective strategy to fight against chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Leukemias are debilitating cancers of the hematopoietic or blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. Now, researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University describe an ingenious strategy against chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) wherein an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprising a cytotoxic drug payload linked to an antibody that selectively targets specific cell lines effectively blocks malignant cell proliferation at source.

16 Apr 2021

New recipients for the 2021 NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Awards announced

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the NCCN Foundation today announced six new recipients for the 2021 NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Awards Program.

15 Apr 2021

COVID-19 deadlier than cars for over 40s, study finds

The study, which appeared on the pre-print server medRxiv, presented mortality rates and case-fatality rates for COVID-19 compared with other historic leading causes of death in the United States.

15 Apr 2021

Ponatinib identified as a potent inhibitor of SARS-CoV2-induced cytokine storm

Researchers at the Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Washington, United States, found that the FDA-approved, multi-kinase inhibitor Ponatinib is a potent inhibitor of the N-terminal domain (NTD) -mediated cytokine storm. Ponatinib is an oral drug used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

14 Apr 2021

Aged bone marrow niche restrains function of rejuvenated HSCs, shows study

When leukemia strikes an older person, it is in part due to the aging of his or her hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

13 Apr 2021

New technology shows encouraging results for treating osteosarcoma

A preclinical study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center shows an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting surface protein MT1-MMP can act as a guided missile in eradicating osteosarcoma tumor cells without damaging normal tissues.

13 Apr 2021

Previously approved drugs starting points for COVID-19 therapeutics

Researchers in the United States have identified several clinically approved compounds that could be repurposed for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

11 Apr 2021

Transposons can protect against certain blood cancers

New research has uncovered a surprising role for so-called "jumping" genes that are a source of genetic mutations responsible for a number of human diseases.

9 Apr 2021