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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.

LRF's 2009 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium report published

Highlights from the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) 2009 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium (MCLC) Scientific Workshop will be published in the March 2010 issue of Leukemia & Lymphoma. Traditionally accessible to subscribers for period of one year, Leukemia and Lymphoma has agreed to make this report available to the public for one month -- Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Report of the 2009 MCL Consortium Workshop.

10 Feb 2010

Biogen Idec reports 2009 fourth quarter and full year earnings

Biogen Idec Inc., a global biotechnology leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapies, today announced its full year and fourth quarter 2009 results.

9 Feb 2010

Researchers explore cellular networks that regulate cell morphology

Cellular imaging offers a wealth of data about how cells respond to stimuli, but harnessing this technique to study biological systems is a daunting challenge.

9 Feb 2010

Synta Pharmaceuticals' STA-9090 inhibits WT1 protein in AML

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. today announced that preclinical results presented at the “Bridging the Gap 2010” Hematologic Conference, held in Singapore City, Singapore, February 5-7, 2010, shows that STA-9090, a potent inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), inhibits the Wilms’ tumor 1 (WT1) protein, a key transcription factor that drives disease progression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as well as certain other leukemias. STA-9090 is currently enrolling patients in two clinical trials in AML and other hematologic cancers.

9 Feb 2010

Scientists identify enzyme mutations in AML patients

A study published online on February 8 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (www.jem.org) reports that several distinct mutations found in a subset of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) result in excess production of the same metabolite.

9 Feb 2010

Cord Blood America finalizes agreement to process and store cord blood specimens for BioCells

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, said today that it has finalized an agreement to process and store cord blood specimens for BioCells, Inc., headquartered in Argentina, and its affiliates in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Panama and Puerto Rico.

8 Feb 2010

EpiCept announces at-the-market program for selling common stock shares

EpiCept Corporation announced today that it has established an at-the-market program through which it may sell, from time to time and at its sole discretion, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $15 million. Maxim Group LLC is acting as sales agent on the program.

6 Feb 2010

News piece may highlight the importance of cord blood donation among Hispanic and Latino community

CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank and its program at South Miami Hospital are being featured on CNN en Espanol's show "Salud." This story on the importance of cord blood donation aired this week and can be seen Friday, February 5 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Sunday, February 7 at 9 a.m. EST and 3 p.m. EST on CNN en Espanol.

5 Feb 2010

Oxford Finance Corporation announces $25M credit facility to EUSA Pharma

Oxford Finance Corporation today announced that it is the agent and primary lender for a $25 million credit facility provided to EUSA Pharma. MidCap Financial and Silicon Valley Bank are co-lenders in the transaction.

5 Feb 2010

iPSC technology for identifying agents that reprogram human somatic cells receives Notice of Allowance

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for U.S. Patent Application Number 10/997,146 entitled "Methods for Reprogramming Somatic Cells." Upon issuance, the patent will cover foundational induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology for identifying agents that enable the reprogramming of human somatic cells, including pluripotency genes, small molecules and biologics.

5 Feb 2010

Scientists discover new technique to destroy individual diseased cells

Using lasers and nanoparticles, scientists at Rice University have discovered a new technique for singling out individual diseased cells and destroying them with tiny explosions.

5 Feb 2010

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announces fourth-quarter and full-year 2009 financial results

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

4 Feb 2010

LLS increases maximum benefit for myeloma patients to $10,000

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is pleased to announce that, effective Feb. 1, 2010, patients with myeloma and waldenstrom macroglobulinemia will now be able to receive up to $10,000 in support to help offset the costs of prescription drug co-pays and other insurance related expenses.

3 Feb 2010

EpiCept regains compliance with Nasdaq minimum bid price requirement

EpiCept Corporation today announced that Nasdaq notified the Company that it has regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement in Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and met the requirements of the Nasdaq Listing Qualification Panel (the “Panel”) decision dated November 2, 2009. Accordingly, the Panel has determined to continue the listing of the Company’s common stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

3 Feb 2010

VIDAZA prolongs survival in AML patients

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation says a study published this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology concludes VIDAZA (azacitidine) “prolongs survival and is well tolerated” in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - an aggressive form of leukemia that in many cases progresses from MDS.

3 Feb 2010

Students collect money to support vital cancer research initiatives

Millions of students across the country soon will share more than their "two cents" as they collect spare change to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) School & Youth campaign during Olive Garden's 16th-annual Pasta for Pennies program.

3 Feb 2010

RMEI, PIM jointly sponsor complimentary continuing education virtual lecture on ALL

Treating acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) can bring many challenges, particularly in the adult population. To optimally manage this disease in adult patients, healthcare professionals must understand and identify characteristics of high-risk disease, utilize best strategies for preventing central nervous system relapse, and recognize the important role of post-remission hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in ALL therapy.

2 Feb 2010

Scientists find that protease HtrA2 can "clean" cells of oncogene WT1

Dr Jorg Hartkamp and Dr Stefan Roberts have found that the protease HtrA2 can "clean" cells of the oncogene WT1, which is found at high levels in many leukaemias and solid cancers such as breast and lung cancer.

From The University of Manchester 2 Feb 2010

GMC designated as NMDP collection site to collect bone marrow from willing donors

Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) was recently designated a National Marrow Donation Program (NMDP) collection site, becoming the only site in the region to collect bone marrow or blood stem cells from willing donors.

2 Feb 2010

Asuragen enters into research agreements to develop microRNA-based diagnostic test

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and RNA-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has entered into research agreements with The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Dartmouth’s Hitchcock Medical Center and the University of Sherbrooke to develop a microRNA-based diagnostic test to aid the detection of pancreatic cancer from fine-needle aspirate (FNA) biopsies.

1 Feb 2010