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.

Leading oncology experts to discuss management of hematological malignancies

Oncology experts from leading cancer organizations from around the country, including the John Theurer Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the National Cancer Institute, will discuss trends in patient care, novel therapies through clinical trials and emerging concepts in the management of hematological malignancies.

23 Sep 2009

Biotime's new subsidiary to focus on clinical development and marketing therapeutic stem cell products in China

BioTime, Inc. (OTCBB:BTIM) announced today that it will organize a new subsidiary, BioTime Asia, Limited, for the purpose of clinically developing and marketing therapeutic stem cell products in the People’s Republic of China, and marketing stem cell research products in China and other countries in Asia.

23 Sep 2009

Private cord blood banking can treat medical conditions but is expensive

Private cord blood banking is not cost-effective because it costs an additional $1,374,246 per life-year gained, according to a new analysis by UCSF researchers. The research team also concluded that private cord blood banking is cost-effective only for families with a child with a very high likelihood of needing a stem cell transplant.

23 Sep 2009

Obesity can increase cancer incidence in leukemic children

Obesity is an important factor contributing to chemotherapy resistance and increasing relapse rates among children with leukemia, according to recent findings published online first in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

23 Sep 2009

Tregs to set the pace of recovery after serious lung injury

After more than 50 experiments in mice, medical scientists at Johns Hopkins have mapped out the basic steps taken by a particular set of white blood cells in setting the pace of recovery after serious lung injury.

22 Sep 2009

Interim data from Micromet's T-cell engaging BiTE antibody study for treating solid tumors

Micromet, Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, today presented first interim data from a phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study for BiTE antibody MT110, the first T-cell engaging antibody for the treatment of solid tumors.

22 Sep 2009

Research counters criticisms of Canadian health care system

Bloomberg reports that allegations that the Canadian health care system offers inferior treatment, rationing and long lines are wrong, according to wide-ranging and long-standing research.

21 Sep 2009

EPO and growth factor therapy safe for anemic MDS patients

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of blood disorders that can lead to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in some patients, often cause severe anemia (when the body lacks a sufficient number of functional red blood cells).

18 Sep 2009

Weis Markets to hold low-cost flu shot program

Beginning this month, Weis Markets will hold more than 100 low-cost flu shot clinics in its Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia stores. In addition, as part of its WEISCARE Adult Immunization program, many Weis Markets' pharmacies will offer flu shots as an on-going service.

17 Sep 2009

Children's Hospital enrolls patients for ExCell clinical study

Children's Hospital of Colorado and the Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture announced today that Children's Hospital is enrolling patients for the ExCell study. Children's Hospital is the 24th in a series of cord blood transplant sites worldwide, five of which are children's centers, participating in the study in the U.S., Spain, Italy, Hungary and Israel.

16 Sep 2009

Legislation grants improve research and employment initiatives in Indiana University medical campus

Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have received more than $12 million in grants funded by the federal economic stimulus legislation, funding that has bolstered both research initiatives and research employment on the medical center campus.

16 Sep 2009

Phase III EXTEND trial results of pixantrone announced

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) today released updated 18-month follow-up clinical data for its phase III EXTEND (PIX 301) trial of pixantrone (BBR2778) for patients with advanced, relapsed or refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Responses were evaluated by an Independent Assessment Panel that was blinded to patient assignment.

16 Sep 2009

New peptide-based cancer vaccine tested in genital cancer patients

Preventive vaccination against infectious diseases has been a major milestone for the health of modern society. The development of therapeutic vaccination against established diseases is much more difficult. For more than 100 years researchers have already tried to develop cancer vaccines and now first promising clinical results raise hopes. A summary of the most attractive new approaches gave Professor Carmen Scheibenbogen, Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, at a press conference in Berlin.

16 Sep 2009

LLS to invest in research to reduce toxic side-effects of cancer treatment

The cure rates for many cancers have improved dramatically over the past decades, but the harsh reality is that too many cancer survivors suffer serious side-effects of their curative treatments. Toxic side-effects can occur months or years after the treatments are finished, sometimes as chronic conditions, sometimes life-threatening, but always unacceptably reducing a patient's quality of life.

15 Sep 2009

Stem cell therapy holds great promise for regenerative medicine

The recipients of The 2009 Lasker Awards, announced today, represent the dramatic advances achieved in biotechnology research that have led to a revolutionary cancer treatment and the tremendous promise of stem cell therapy for regenerative medicine. Such advances portend a potential $700 million global market for new therapies within less than five years, according to Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN, www.genengnews.com).

15 Sep 2009

Cell Therapeutics submits Pediatric Investigation Plan to EMEA for pixantrone

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) announced today that it has submitted a Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) as part of the required filing process for approval of pixantrone for treating relapsed or refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) in Europe. The PIP outlines how the company proposes to study the drug in children in order to benefit child health.

15 Sep 2009

Loyola University receives funds to renovate bone marrow transplant unit

Loyola University Medical Center has received a $2 million matching grant from The Coleman Foundation to renovate the hospital's nationally known bone marrow transplant unit. Intended to encourage private donations for the project, the grant will match gifts up to $2 million on a dollar for dollar basis, through August 2010.

15 Sep 2009

Hispanic/Latino Americans have a unique cancer risk profile, says report

The latest edition of Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos reports that Hispanic/Latino Americans -the largest, fastest-growing, and youngest minority in the United States-have a unique cancer risk profile that requires a targeted approach to cancer prevention.

15 Sep 2009

Cytrx initiates tamibarotene and TRISENOX combination dose escalation study

CytRx Corporation (NASDAQ:CYTR), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of human therapeutics, today announced the initiation of a dose escalation study with its oncology drug candidate tamibarotene combined with TRISENOX® (arsenic trioxide) injection (marketed by Cephalon, Inc.) in patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

14 Sep 2009

Genoptix to present an overview of its specialized diagnostic laboratory services business

Genoptix, Inc., a specialized laboratory services provider, today announced the Company's participation at the following upcoming investor conferences.

14 Sep 2009