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.

Newer treatments, closer monitoring of childhood cancer may improve longevity

Although more children today are surviving cancer than ever before, young patients successfully treated in the 1970s and 80s may live a decade less, on average, than the general population, according to a study from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health.

7 Apr 2010

Emory University researchers develop experimental clinical test for XMRV

The recently discovered retrovirus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV), has been identified in some prostate cancer patients. In light of conflicting data concerning XMRV, standardized diagnostic testing is important to identify patients in which XMRV is present and to determine whether it plays a role in the incidence of prostate cancer.

6 Apr 2010

Rebirth of the cursed drug Thalidomide

Thalidomide was once a dreaded name in the Pharmaceutical industry. It was initially marketed in some European countries nearly 5 decades back as a sedative and after millions of pregnant women took it for morning sickness it had devastating results on the babies. The babies were born with flippers instead of limbs a condition known as phocomelia. Since then it has been under strict control.

5 Apr 2010

Study: Trial vaccine eliminates residual cancer cells in CML patients

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say preliminary studies show that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

3 Apr 2010

Cancer Prevention Coalition's statement on new nominated NCI Director

Last Wednesday, the White House nominated Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus as Director of the National Cancer Institute.

3 Apr 2010

Harnessing body's own natural killer cells to battle cancer in children

Work underway at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital seeks to harnesses the body's own immune cells known as natural killer, or NK, cells to help children battle cancer. NK cells are the immune system's warriors. The cells circulate widely in the body, armed with proteins, called enzymes, capable of delivering a deadly one-two punch to viruses and cancer cells.

3 Apr 2010

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals' abstracts on cell cycle inhibitor drugs selected for presentation at AACR meeting

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that six abstracts highlighting translational and preclinical data for Cyclacel's cell cycle inhibitor drugs have been selected for presentation at the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, being held from April 17-21, 2010, in Washington, DC.

2 Apr 2010

Cord Blood America signs License and Cooperation Agreement with AXM Pharma in China

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, announced today that it has signed a License and Cooperation Agreement for the processing and storage of umbilical cord blood in China with AXM Pharma, Inc.

1 Apr 2010

MIPA launches campaign to educate consumers save money on prescription medications

The Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association today announced the kickoff of a campaign aimed at educating consumers about a proposal to help save money on prescription medications. MIPA was joined by patient groups, pharmacists, and lawmakers at a Boston pharmacy, Tremont Drug, to highlight the fact that Massachusetts is the only state in the nation that bans the use of manufacturer discounts and co-pay assistance programs for the purchase of prescription drugs.

31 Mar 2010

Investment report on Sunesis Pharmaceuticals

StockPreacher.com announces an investment report featuring Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Inc.. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

31 Mar 2010

USPTO issues Notice of Allowance for menadione to prevent skin rash in patients taking EGFR inhibitors

Hana Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening the foundation of cancer care, today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the use of menadione to prevent and treat skin rash in patients taking biologic and small molecule epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, such as Erbitux® and Tarceva®, for anti-cancer therapy.

31 Mar 2010

Mutations in gene protecting body leads to development of cancer

An important gene that normally protects the body against cancer can itself cause a variety of cancers depending on the specific mutation that damages it, according to a new study by investigators at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James).

30 Mar 2010

Enrollment complete in Gemin X Pharmaceuticals' Phase 2 clinical trial of obatoclax for SCLC

Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, targeted cancer therapeutics, today announced the completion of patient enrollment in a Phase 2 clinical trial of the Company's lead product candidate obatoclax (GX15-070) for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of obatoclax, a novel pan Bcl-2 inhibitor, in combination with standard chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with SCLC.

29 Mar 2010

New insights on events that lead to immortalized cells

Researchers at Umeå University can now show that cells that grow forever get this capacity through gradual changes in the expression of genes that govern the repair of DNA damage and regulate growth and cell death. The research also shows that activation of the enzyme complex telomerase, which is necessary for unlimited growth, occurs late in this process.

29 Mar 2010

Agent Orange exposure: VA adds three new illnesses to list of health problems

Well over 100,000 Veterans exposed to herbicides while serving in Vietnam and other areas will have an easier path to qualify for disability pay under a proposed regulation published by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that adds three new illnesses to the list of health problems found to be related to Agent Orange and other herbicide exposures.

27 Mar 2010

San Antonio residents to gather at The Westin La Cantera Resort for LLS’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign

On April 1, residents of San Antonio will gather at The Westin La Cantera Resort to “Mix & Mingle for a Cure,” from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign.

27 Mar 2010

WinRho SDF for ITP: Cangene announces new safety information

Cangene Corporation, in consultation with Health Canada, is informing Canadian patients and healthcare professionals of important new safety information concerning the use of WinRho SDF (Rho (D) Immune Globulin (Human)) for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura, also called immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP. WinRho SDF belongs to a group of biological medicines derived from human plasma known as immunoglobulins. It is administered in hospitals by infusion through the veins.

27 Mar 2010

Genome sequencing of tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer

Tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer are having their genomes sequenced in an attempt to develop a DNA profile that one day may identify ahead of time the patients who will most likely respond to chemotherapy with an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of chemotherapeutic agents that block the production of estrogen in postmenopausal women.

27 Mar 2010

FDA approves Graceway Pharmaceuticals' NDA for Zyclara

Graceway® Pharmaceuticals announced today that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the New Drug Application for Zyclara™, determining it to be safe and effective for the treatment of clinically typical, visible or palpable actinic keratoses.

27 Mar 2010

FDA Advisory Committee to review VIVUS' NDA for Qnexa

VIVUS, Inc. today announced that the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is tentatively scheduled to review the Company's New Drug Application for Qnexa® for the treatment of obesity on July 15, 2010.

26 Mar 2010