Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) taking statin medications at the start of treatment had a significantly lower risk of dying from their cancer. Statin use reduced death rates by 61% compared to non-statin users.
Dr Ari Melnick brings extensive experience to the institute, with a focus on precision medicine and haematological diseases. He aims to accelerate innovative treatments and enhance patient outcomes through strong partnerships with leading hospitals and research centres.
A survey by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center found that 65% of Americans are unfamiliar with CAR T-cell therapy, a personalized cancer treatment option. The therapy involves extracting and engineering immune cells to recognize and kill cancer cells, with promising results in treating blood cancers.
Aging-associated mutations in the Dnmt3a gene boost mitochondria power in blood stem cells, leading to clonal hematopoiesis. New mitochondrial-targeting drugs show promise in treating age-related illnesses by selectively weakening mutated cells without impacting normal ones.
A new combination therapy using cemiplimab and isatuximab has shown promising results in a phase 2 clinical trial for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, with 51% of patients achieving complete response. The study validated genomic biomarkers and a prognostic model developed by the National Cancer Centre Singapore, offering potential for mo...
Researchers have received funding to develop a prototype for a new test to monitor people with MGUS, a precursor condition of multiple myeloma. The test aims to detect increases in monoclonal protein and identify patients who need hospital referral for early treatment.
A new study suggests that CT scans could account for 5% of all cancer cases each year, primarily due to radiation exposure. The largest risk is among infants, followed by children and adolescents. To mitigate this risk, reducing the number of scans and doses per scan can help save lives.
Researchers have developed an innovative optical genome mapping technique that can identify structural variants and copy number variations across the entire genome in a single test. The method has been shown to reduce material requirements and improve prognostic stratification for patients with multiple myeloma.
Novel biomarkers like miRNA-34a link anthracyclines to cardiotoxicity, while stem cell therapy and nanotechnology offer potential for prevention and treatment. Traditional strategies have limitations, but new approaches hold hope for improved patient outcomes.
Researchers found explosive growth rates of cancerous cells years before diagnosis, with variation in growth rates between patients. The study suggests that a single genetic variation drives the disease, making it an outlier compared to other cancers.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has awarded four early-career oncologists with $150,000 in funding to tackle pressing challenges in cancer care. The recipients will support studies aiming to improve cancer outcomes through molecular residual disease-guided adjuvant therapy and electronic symptom monitoring.
Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have identified a novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia, which showed significant delays in disease progression and improved survival rates. The protein paraspeckle component 1 (PSPC1) plays a crucial role in the disease, and targeting it may offer new treatment options for AML patients.
A new study suggests that blood cancer patients receiving Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors should continue their therapy while getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The IMPROVE trial found no improvement in antibody responses when BTKi therapy was paused for three weeks around the time of vaccination.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that the FGR protein can induce cell differentiation in leukemia cells similar to retinoic acid treatment. The presence of FGR alone was enough to make these cells mature, producing well-known markers of maturation and expressing inhibitor of the cell cycle p27.
Yali Dou, a molecular biologist at Keck School of Medicine of USC, has been elected as an AAAS fellow for her groundbreaking work in understanding leukemia and cancer. Her research on mixed-lineage leukemia proteins has led to the development of potential cancer treatments and a deeper understanding of epigenetics.
Preet Chaudhary and Michael Selsted, USC innovators, recognized by the National Academy of Inventors for their work on harnessing the power of the immune system. Their research aims to develop new treatments for diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and sepsis.
Researchers have developed a TIM-3 decoy that improves the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy in treating B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The decoy blocks the interaction between the tumor and immune cells, allowing CAR-T cells to persist and attack cancer cells more effectively.
New leukemia treatment combination shows promise for patients with follicular lymphoma. Immunotherapy research also explores ways to suppress protein ZNF638 to boost effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Innovative funding efforts support Sylvester's cancer research initiatives.
Researchers developed a microfluidic device to alleviate limitations of conventional blood-filtering machines used in treating hyperleukocytosis in children. The new device separates blood cells by size without platelet loss or adverse effects, enabling safe leukapheresis procedures.
Dr. Owen Witte has been awarded the 12th annual Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine for his groundbreaking work on leukemia, lymphoma, and other cancers. His discoveries have led to life-saving therapies like Gleevec and ibrutinib, transforming cancer treatment.
Researchers found genetic changes in frequent blood donors that enable them to respond well to blood loss, promoting healthy stem cell growth. In contrast, preleukemic mutations associated with blood cancer were not favored by regular donation.
Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered a way to predict a potentially life-threatening side effect of cancer immunotherapy before it occurs. By analyzing cerebrospinal fluid, they identified specific proteins associated with an immune response that can affect the central nervous system after therapy.
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named 13 new Fellows, awarding them $300,000 each to investigate cancer causes and mechanisms. Five recipients of the Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists will also receive an additional $100,000 investment to catapult their research careers.
Researchers at Amsterdam UMC and Moffitt Cancer Center found that contact with CLL cells leads to an energy crisis in T cells, making them unable to proliferate. The study suggests that restoring T cell energy could significantly enhance the effectiveness of current treatments for cancer.
Researchers at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified an innovative combination treatment strategy that collaborates to kill AML cells. The new approach targets the SRC gene and MCL-1 protein, leading to increased cell death in leukemia cells. This discovery offers a promising new direction for leukemia treatment.
The Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship aims to address a funding gap for pediatric cancer research. The program supports innovative projects that could significantly impact the diagnosis or treatment of one or more pediatric cancers.
A new case report reveals a rare and aggressive form of leukemia developing from donor cells nine years after a stem cell transplant. The disease, driven by genetic mutations in key genes, progresses despite intensive treatment and ultimately proves fatal.
A team of international researchers found that tumor cells become drastically diverse when exiting the bone marrow, affecting immune cells in the cancer lesions. This discovery could contribute to more precise diagnostics and therapy for multiple myeloma, a incurable bone marrow cancer.
Researchers identified a method to enhance CAR-T cell therapy by modifying the CUL5 gene. This approach improves T cells' growth and longevity, making them more effective in fighting cancer. The study suggests a new way to create targeted cells using a virus to deliver genetic material.
Researchers found that inhibiting protein RSK1 reduces inflammation and stops progression of blood cancers like myeloproliferative neoplasms and acute myeloid leukemia. The RSK1 inhibitor is already in clinical trials for breast cancer and shows promise as a treatment for blood cancers.
Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC found an association between levels of manmade “forever chemicals” in drinking water and certain digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth and throat cancers. The study estimated that PFAS contamination contributes to 6,864 cancer cases per year.
A three-drug cocktail of drugs has been identified as a potential booster of CAR-T cancer therapy by researchers at the University of North Carolina. The cocktail preserves a critical cell subset called T-memory stem cells, which are crucial for long-term persistence of CAR-T cells.
Researchers developed a new super-resolution microscopic method to investigate the interactions of therapeutic antibodies with target molecules on tumour cells. The study reveals that all four antibodies crosslink CD20 molecules independently of type I or II classification, and that B cells take on a hedgehog shape after treatment.
Researchers developed a computer model to predict which medication works best for each individual patient with CML. The approach has the potential to improve treatment outcomes for patients who previously relied on stem cell transplantation.
The new guidelines aim to reduce trauma and delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy. Led by Dr Georgia Mills and Dr Gisele Kidson-Gerber, the guidelines provide a practical guide for doctors, including recommendations for diagnosis, staging, imaging safety, therapy, and supportive care.
The new therapy significantly improves three-year disease-free survival for children with B-ALL, with 96% being disease-free for at least three years. Blinatumomab is now being used in most patients due to its practice-changing breakthrough, offering improved quality of life and reduced side effects.
Scientists at Goethe University Frankfurt have discovered a new way to tailor natural killer cells to target leukemia cells, improving their efficacy. The researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to disable an immune checkpoint, allowing the modified cells to attack cancer cells more effectively.
Researchers identified YTHDF2 as a key player in advancing blood cancers, which can help cancer cells evade immune system detection. A new compound CCI-38 targets and suppresses YTHDF2, reducing aggressive blood cancer growth.
WashU Medicine receives a $10.8 million grant to support cutting-edge leukemia research and renew its SPORE program in blood cancer. The grant will fund four major research studies and a career-enhancement program to train the next generation of physician-scientists.
A new blood test developed by RMIT University researchers could help personalize cancer treatments, making them safer and more effective. The test assesses how well different nanomedicines target cancer cells in the blood of leukemia patients, allowing for more tailored therapies.
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center offers expert advice on coping with holiday loss and grief. Biological age can predict early colorectal cancer risk, while research advances may lead to a cure for multiple myeloma. Blood cancer experts share insights into new treatments.
Researchers discovered a gene variant in high-altitude Andean populations that can help predict the severity of certain types of blood cancer. The NFKB1 gene variant is associated with lower inflammation levels and better treatment responses in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Stephen D. Nimer, MD, has been awarded the American Society of Hematology's (ASH) Mentor Award for 2024 for his impact on over 100 hematology trainees who have gone on to have thriving careers. He is recognized for creating a collaborative environment that drives scientific discovery and quality patient care.
A new treatment shows promise for people with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma, delaying cancer progression and improving overall survival. Daratumumab significantly reduces risk of progression to active disease and improves patient outcomes.
A phase 3 trial shows that autologous stem cell transplants do not improve survival for mantle cell lymphoma patients in complete remission and undetectable minimal residual disease. Patients who remain MRD-positive after induction may benefit from ASCT, but longer follow-up is needed to confirm these findings.
A new review published in Blood Cancer Discovery outlines how research supported a recent FDA committee decision to allow minimal residual disease as an endpoint for accelerated approval in multiple myeloma. This decision could cut a decade off the drug development process, enabling faster innovation in cancer treatment.
Researchers have identified a promising new drug, lomonitinib, targeting treatment-resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT-3 mutation. Additionally, they developed a novel compound to target MALT1 protein in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), aiming to provide better control of the disease.
Two clinical trials testing loncastuximab tesirine showed promising results in patients with high-risk forms of follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. The treatment achieved impressive response rates, including a 70% complete response rate for marginal zone lymphoma and an overall response rate of 97% for follicular lymphoma.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that a high fiber plant-based dietary intervention can significantly improve disease progression trajectory in participants with precancerous blood disorder. After 12 weeks, two participants showed a significant improvement and none progressed to multiple myeloma within one year.
Researchers found that a ketogenic diet's beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) improves tumor control and survival in mice with diffuse-large B-cell lymphoma. A BHB supplement also boosts CAR T cell expansion and activation in laboratory models of human cancer.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are addressing socioeconomic barriers to access to life-saving transplants for blood disorders. New leukemia treatment regimens have shown promise in clinical trials, while a prediction model highlights improved survivorship and quality of life outcomes for older patients after transplant.
A new chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy called obe-cel has delivered promising results in treating patients with an aggressive blood cancer. The treatment reduced immune toxicity and persisted for longer in patients, overcoming two common limitations of earlier CAR-T cell therapies.
A comprehensive epigenetic database of over 200 malignant cell lines has been developed, offering valuable insights into leukemia and lymphoma. The database allows researchers to predict drug sensitivity based on epigenetic lesions, aiding in tumour diagnosis and treatment.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia researchers discovered a gene signature that identifies patients with T-ALL at high risk of relapse. The study found a potential therapeutic treatment, venetoclax, which targets specific cells associated with poor outcomes.
Sylvester researchers will present over 130 studies at ASH 2024, addressing disparities in gastric cancer. Frank J. Penedo's research highlights worse outcomes for patients with unmet supportive needs, while Shria Kumar's work seeks answers for disparities in gastric cancer among specific minorities.
Researchers found that sacubitril-valsartan, a commonly prescribed heart failure medication, can help prevent heart damage related to chemotherapy treatment among high-risk cancer patients. The study highlights the importance of identifying patients at high risk for heart damage and suggests strategies for early intervention.
Marina Konopleva joins the Eradicating MRD in AML TeamLab to develop new ways to detect and target Minimal Residual Disease. MECCC has developed multiple targeted agents that have become standard of care for older AML patients, and will partner with Break Through Cancer to deepen understanding of MRD drivers.
A new research project will test a combination of two targeted therapies, teclistamab and daratumumab, to treat AL amyloidosis, a rare disease affecting approximately 4,500 people annually in the U.S. The study aims to leverage previous findings from multiple myeloma to expand understanding of this treatment option.
Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School have identified a genetic variation common among East Asians that contributes to drug resistance in cancer cells. The team's pioneering approach involves inhibiting the action of protein MCL-1, showing promising results in effectively killing resistant cancer cells.
A new study published in The British Journal of Cancer found that whole genome sequencing can help identify treatment recommendations for cancer patients. The study evaluated the regional implementation of the 100,000 Genomes Project and found that different types of cancer were associated with varying rates of recommended actions.