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.

Novel assay may improve detection and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

A novel assay that detects a unique molecular marker in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may revolutionize the way this disease is detected and treated according to a new report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics published by Elsevier.

13 Nov 2023

Gene therapy's double-edged sword: Breakthrough treatments face manufacturing and efficacy

Research explores the advancements, challenges, and economic implications of gene therapy for various diseases, including inherited blood disorders, malignancies treated with CAR-T cells, and diseases targeted by in vivo AAV vectors. The review highlights the transformative potential of gene therapies while acknowledging the complexities in manufacturing, safety, efficacy, and long-term durability.

12 Nov 2023

Researchers reveal mechanism by which MAF protein increases metastasis risk in breast cancer patients

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women, with more than 2 million new cases diagnosed each year. In cases where the tumour remains localised in the breast, survival rates are remarkably high, at around 90%.

9 Nov 2023

Tumor-immune interactions predict treatment responses in multiple myeloma

A multicenter study led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine shows how interactions between tumor cells and immune components of the microenvironment can impact treatment responses and outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who undergo combination treatments that include targeted immunotherapy.

9 Nov 2023

Study shows linear associations between body mass index and site-specific tumors in young males

The associations between body mass index (BMI) among young males and new-onset site-specific tumors.

8 Nov 2023

Targeted drug may offer a new treatment option for patients with relapsed blood cancer

A new targeted drug, studied by researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James), may offer a new treatment option for patients with blood cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) whose disease has stopped responding to standard treatments.

6 Nov 2023

High BMI in late teens linked to higher risk of 17 different cancers later in life

Men who are overweight or obese at age 18 have a higher risk of 17 different cancers later in life. This has been shown in a study at the University of Gothenburg.

6 Nov 2023

Atlas of cancer's hidden rules: Unveiling the transcriptomic and epigenetic secrets across 11 tumors

Researchers have mapped the complex epigenetic and transcriptomic landscape of cancer, revealing key regulatory elements across 11 tumor types that could unlock new insights into cancer progression and metastasis.

5 Nov 2023

Clinical trial demonstrates the effectiveness of ALS drug in treating people with acute spinal cord injuries

A small clinical trial with a pharmacokinetic sub-study, led by a world-renowned pharmacologist at the University of Houston, has demonstrated the promising effectiveness of the drug Riluzole for improving functionality in people with acute spinal cord injuries (SCI) if the drug is taken within 12 hours post-injury.

1 Nov 2023

New study highlights risks of anti-ERBB2 cancer drugs during pregnancy

Study finds that anti-ERBB2 inhibitors used in breast cancer treatment pose significant risks to pregnancy and fetal health, including higher likelihoods of congenital defects and intrauterine growth restriction. Researchers recommend careful monitoring and possibly discontinuing these drugs during pregnancy despite their effectiveness against cancer.

29 Oct 2023

Blood test detects cancer earlier in individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) and University Health Network (UHN) have demonstrated that by analyzing patients' blood samples, they are able to detect cancer earlier in individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an inherited condition with an almost 100 percent life-time risk of developing cancer.

24 Oct 2023

Researchers discover new way to trigger programmed cell death in cancer cells

A research team from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center has identified a crucial epitope (a protein section that can activate the larger protein) on the CD95 receptor that can cause cells to die.

24 Oct 2023

Strengthening the immune system to fight cytomegalovirus on its own

Some viruses can be dormant throughout a person's life and cause no harm but become dangerous when the immune system is weakened.

17 Oct 2023

Engineered bacteria deliver synthetic targets to solid tumors

For several years, researchers have been successfully using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to target specific antigens found on blood cells as a cure for patients with leukemia and lymphoma.

12 Oct 2023

Bio-inspired drug restores the effectiveness of immune cells in fighting cancer

A new, bio-inspired drug restores the effectiveness of immune cells in fighting cancer, a team led by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has found.

9 Oct 2023

Gut health and leukemia: Exploring the crucial connection between diet and microbiota changes

Gut microbiota's role in leukemia treatment responses is explored, with evidence suggesting diet and prebiotics may help manage microbiota alterations in patients. Diet during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and gut microbiota composition all intersect, potentially influencing leukemia risks and treatment outcomes.

8 Oct 2023

Research opens the door for better use of people's own immune system T cells to fight cancer

Using laboratory-grown cells from humans and genetically engineered mice, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have evidence that modifying a specific protein in immune white blood cells known as CD8+ T cells can make the cells more robust, potentially opening the door for better use of people's own immune system T cells to fight cancer.

3 Oct 2023

Identification of Alzheimer's disease-associated micro-RNA biomarkers through network-based analysis

Micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) linked to cognition and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

3 Oct 2023

As covid infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines

"Covid is not pretty in a nursing home," said Deb Wityk, a 70-year-old retired massage therapist who lives in one called Spurgeon Manor, in rural Iowa. She twice contracted the disease and is eager to get the newly approved vaccine because she has chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which weakens her immune system.

27 Sep 2023

Gene-silencer study could pave the way for novel cancer therapeutics

Deep inside our cells-;each one complete with an identical set of genes-;a molecular machine known as PRC2 plays a critical role in determining which cells become heart cells, versus brain or muscle or skin cells.

26 Sep 2023