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.

Immune system may play a role in cancer therapies: Study

The immune system may play a critical role in ensuring the success of certain types of cancer therapies, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The research showed treatments that disable cancer-promoting genes called oncogenes are much more successful in eradicating tumors in the presence of a signaling molecule secreted by kind of immune cell called a T helper cell.

28 Oct 2010

EpiCept, FDA reach agreement on regulatory path forward for Ceplene

EpiCept Corporation today announced that it has reached an agreement on all outstanding issues with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a regulatory path forward for Ceplene® (histamine dihydrochloride), the Company's lead product for the remission maintenance and prevention of relapse of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission. Ceplene® is approved in the European Union for this indication and is marketed there by Meda AB.

28 Oct 2010

Reactivating three silenced molecules may provide new strategy to treat multiple myeloma

New research links three molecules to a critical tumor suppressor gene that is often turned off in multiple myeloma, a presently incurable cancer of the blood.

27 Oct 2010

ARIAD prices common stock public offering

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 16,000,000 shares of its common stock at $3.70 per share. The offering is expected to close on or about October 29, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, ARIAD has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 2,400,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

27 Oct 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb 2010 third quarter U.S. net sales increases 4% to $3.1 billion

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today reported results for the third quarter of 2010. Highlights in the quarter included: the presentation of new data on investigational compounds in the diabetes and cardiovascular disease franchises at major medical meetings; the completion of important regulatory milestones in the oncology, diabetes and immunoscience franchises; the acquisition of ZymoGenetics; and double-digit EPS growth. The company also confirmed guidance for 2010.

26 Oct 2010

Cord Blood America updates progress on stem cell collection business in China

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally, today announced its Chairman, CEO and co-founder, Matthew Schissler, has updated progress on the Company's stem cell collection business in China in an interview with analyst Francis Gaskins.

26 Oct 2010

New source of blood-derived biomarkers may help in cancer diagnosis

The future of cancer diagnosis may lie in just a few milliliters of blood, according to a research team led by Professor Arie Admon of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

26 Oct 2010

ARIAD's oral ridaforolimus improves PFS in patients with metastatic endometrial cancer

Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced interim results of a randomized, open‐label, active-control multicenter Phase 2 study of oral ridaforolimus, an investigational mTOR inhibitor, in patients with metastatic or recurrent endometrial cancer. Based on this interim analysis, the study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients receiving single-agent ridaforolimus compared to patients receiving standard-of-care treatment.

26 Oct 2010

BAFF protein can promote aggressive leukemia and lymphomas

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells survive and thrive not just by their own innate wiles, but by also acquiring aid and support from host cells in their surrounding environment.

25 Oct 2010

GE Healthcare signs definitive agreement to acquire Clarient

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company and Clarient, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement for GE Healthcare to acquire Clarient, a leading player in the fast-growing molecular diagnostics sector.

25 Oct 2010

Parents more likely to be dissatisfied with informed consent process in children’s clinical trials

Compared with adult cancer patients, parents of children with cancer were more likely to be dissatisfied with the informed consent process for participating in clinical trials, according to a study from Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center. The findings will be presented at the 42nd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Boston on Saturday, Oct. 23.

22 Oct 2010

Cephalon signs convertible note subscription agreement with ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals

Today, Cephalon, Inc. announced the signing of a convertible note subscription agreement with ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited, an Australian-based oncology focused biopharmaceutical company.

22 Oct 2010

Genmab A/S reports DKK 78 million in net sales for Arzerra

Genmab A/S announced today that the net sales for Arzerra(R) (ofatumumab) during the third quarter of 2010 were approximately DKK 78 million (approximately USD 14 million).

21 Oct 2010

Cord Blood to explain queries on VoiceAmerica Radio Network

Cord Blood America, Inc. the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life-saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally, is pleased to announce that Chairman, CEO and co-founder Matthew Schissler and Dr. Geoffrey O'Neill, Vice President, Operations, will appear for one hour live on "Go Rogue & Get Rich" on The VoiceAmerica Radio Network.

21 Oct 2010

Alexion 2010 third quarter revenue increases from $102.6 to $141.6 million

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

21 Oct 2010

LSUHSC receives NIH grant for research on cancer and infectious diseases

LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has been awarded $12 million over five years by the National Institutes of Health to conduct research on diseases like prostate and stomach cancers, lymphoma and leukemia, dengue fever, tuberculosis, and herpes infections, as well as to support the development of academic research scientists.

21 Oct 2010

Partnership between institutions in high- and low-resource areas can improve pediatric sarcoma treatment

Raising the survival rate of children with sarcoma in low-income countries will require steps to diagnose the disease sooner, train cancer pathologists, expand radiation therapy services, create multi-specialty teams to review each case, and other actions, according to an international study led by Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center researchers. The findings will be presented at the 42nd Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) in Boston on Friday, Oct. 22.

21 Oct 2010

Genzyme reports results of Clolar combination Phase 3 trial in adult AML

Genzyme Corporation announced results today from its CLASSIC I phase 3 trial comparing Clolar® (clofarabine) in combination with the chemotherapy agent cytarabine (ara-c) to cytarabine plus placebo in relapsed-refractory adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

21 Oct 2010

Abbott third quarter worldwide sales increase 11.8% to $8.7 billion

Abbott today announced financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2010.

20 Oct 2010

Genoptix ranked #41 on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500

Genoptix, Inc., a specialized laboratory services provider, today announced that it ranked number 41 on Technology Fast 500™, Deloitte's ranking of 500 of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth during the five year period from 2005–2009. Genoptix grew 3,451 percent during this period.

20 Oct 2010