Articles tagged with Leukemia
Research led by University of Arizona scientist Paul R. Sheppard found that tree rings from Fallon, Nev. showed quadrupled tungsten levels between 1990 and 2002, preceding a rise in childhood leukemia cases. The study suggests environmental contamination may be to blame for the cluster.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a potent and selective killer of leukemia cells, specifically cyanidin-3-rutinoside, a naturally occurring compound found in many fruits and vegetables as well as red wine. This finding offers hope for a more targeted and less toxic therapy for leukemia.
Researchers have found that the novel targeted therapy NPI-0052 effectively treats acute leukemia in animal models by preventing cancer cells from being purged of damaged proteins. This approach has shown greater efficacy than its predecessor bortezomib when combined with other agents.
VIB researchers have discovered that MYB duplication is associated with T-ALL cases, leading to increased MYB concentrations. This finding opens up possibilities for targeted therapies against this specific group of patients.
A study found that survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a significantly increased risk of secondary cancers developing over time. The cumulative incidence of secondary neoplasms increases from 4.17% at 15 years to 10.85% at 30 years, with the majority being low-grade tumors.
Researchers at Stowers Institute have identified a cellular factor that can reverse histone trimethylation associated with mixed lineage leukemia. This discovery may lead to the identification of new targets for the treatment of leukemia caused by MLL translocations.
A new study has discovered a way to identify cells that will cause graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in blood cancer patients. This breakthrough allows for more reliable testing of donor T cells and personalized medicine approaches, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Scientists identified an approach to boost the activity of dasatinib, a potent anti-cancer agent, by combining it with PD184352. This combination resulted in increased apoptosis in leukemia cells, particularly those resistant to imatinib mesylate.
Researchers discovered that arsenite destabilizes lysosomes, breaking them apart and releasing enzymes that destroy APL cells. This finding could inform further research into treating APL, a rare cancer caused by chromosome fusion.
Two microRNAs, miR-29 and miR-181, have been found to control the expression of the TCL1 oncogene responsible for aggressive forms of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. High levels of these miRNAs suppress TCL1 expression, while low levels correlate with more aggressive cancer.
A novel regimen of three chemotherapy drugs resulted in a significant clinical response in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The treatment showed promise for high-risk patients, with no age restrictions, and minimal side effects.
A five-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that Gleevec has a nearly 90% overall survival rate for patients with CML, significantly improving patient outcomes compared to previous estimates of five years.
A new research effort harnesses in-depth understanding of genes and molecular pathways to develop highly specific drugs designed to kill leukemia cells while causing few or no toxic effects on normal cells. The goal is to streamline advances in molecular medicine to find new treatment options for infant leukemia.
A phase II study found that lenalidomide significantly improves clinical outcomes in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), achieving a major response in 47% of patients. The medication's predictable safety profile and manageable side effects make it an attractive alternative for treatment.
Children who survive childhood cancer are more likely to experience strokes later in life. Cranial radiation therapy increases the risk of stroke in these patients. Researchers are now exploring ways to screen and prevent strokes in high-risk survivors.
A study at The Wistar Institute found that blocking certain enzymes may inhibit chronic inflammation in blood vessel walls, but also promotes leukemia in mice. The researchers identified a strain of mice lacking the gene for a specific lipoxygenase enzyme, which closely mimics human CML and offers a new model for studying the disease.
Researchers identify crucial role of RhoH GTPase in development and activation of white blood cells, suggesting potential target for leukemia treatment. The study's findings may provide a novel approach to treating hematological malignancy.
Researchers discovered that JAK/STAT signaling can change the genetic packaging of DNA, leading to the activation of previously silenced genes and contributing to cancer. This finding suggests a new mechanism for cancer development and has implications for cancer treatment.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital developed a mouse model that explains why gene therapy treatment caused leukemia in some severe immune deficiency patients with XSCID. The study found that the disease itself makes mice susceptible to cancer caused by gene therapy, offering hope for safe treatment.
Researchers found that a normal gene involved in mammary gland function helps trigger a lethal type of leukemia when mutated. The discovery suggests that drugs targeting this mutation may have fewer serious side effects in leukemia patients.
Researchers discovered a mutation in the MPL gene that activates the JAK-STAT pathway, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and leukemia. The new finding offers potential targets for drugs targeting the JAK-STAT pathway, which may be effective against leukemias caused by either the MPL or JAK2 mutations.
A phase I clinical trial reveals nilotinib has a relatively favorable safety profile and demonstrates activity against drug-resistant CML, with notable improvements in chronic phase CML patients. However, the agent shows less activity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients and may require careful monitoring for cardiac events.
Researchers have developed a new treatment option that breaks Leukemia's resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy by targeting specific cells with alpha particles. This approach increases the dose to leukemia cells, causing cell kill while sparing non-target tissues from detrimental radiation effects.
A five-year update from the IRIS Study Group shows excellent results for people with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) treated with Gleevec, a targeted cancer therapy. Overall survival rates reach 89% at five years, with fewer than 1% of patients progressing to accelerated or blast crisis phases.
VIB researchers have found a new treatment option for chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL), a rare and aggressive type of leukemia. The breakthrough is due to the discovery that Sorafenib, an existing kidney tumor treatment, works effectively against CEL.
Research suggests that a genetic mutation in the Arf gene can cause leukemias to resist Gleevec treatment, leading to aggressive disease progression. This finding may lead to new treatments that re-sensitize tumor cells to Gleevec therapies.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that a combination of the Bcr-Abl mutation and loss of both Arf genes in bone marrow cells triggers an aggressive form of ALL. Inactivating both Arf genes enables leukemic cells to multiply despite imatinib treatment, highlighting potential strategies for overcoming resistance.
A study by Ohio State University researchers discovered a set of 17 miRNAs turned off during normal megakaryocyte differentiation, creating a molecular signature for healthy platelets. In contrast, 10 miRNAs were found to be turned on in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia cells, suggesting a potential target for new therapies.
A new study suggests that high dietary folate intake may be associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer. The research followed over 81,000 men and women for an average of 6.8 years and observed 135 cases of pancreatic cancer during this time. Men and women with higher folate intakes had lower incidence rates of the disease comp...
Researchers found encouraging preliminary findings in four patients with CLL who improved after taking EGCG, an extract of green tea. However, more studies are needed to determine the optimal dose and side effects before recommending widespread use.
Researchers found elevated tungsten and cobalt levels in Fallon's air, differing from nearby towns. The findings suggest a possible environmental cause for childhood leukemia cases in the area, prompting further research to examine the relationship between these metals and cancer development.
UC Davis researchers found that therapy-induced leukemia develops from the rearrangement of the MLL gene and factors that activate programmed cell death. The process may be preventable by completing apoptosis in cancer cells, offering a potential treatment avenue.
The study found that phosphatase 2A activation modulates key cell survival molecules and induces growth suppression, cell differentiation, and apoptosis in BCR/ABL cell lines. Restoration of PP2A activity in CML-BC patient cells counteracted leukemia development.
Researchers have discovered a key process underlying CML progression and identified an agent that can block it. Forskolin restores normal cell functioning in Gleevec-resistant cells, offering new treatment options for patients with advanced or resistant disease.
Researchers at VCU Massey Cancer Center discovered a new agent, Bay 43-9006, that targets the Mcl-1 protein to inhibit leukemia cell survival. The study found that Bay 43-9006 reduces Mcl-1 levels through an unusual mechanism, inhibiting protein synthesis.
Researchers found menin promotes acute leukemia by working with mutated MLL proteins, leading to the formation of cancer cells. Removing menin stops cell proliferation and allows cells to mature into healthy blood cells.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a new monoclonal antibody targeting immune system B cells that shows promise in treating leukemias, autoimmune diseases, and transplant rejection. The treatment effectively depletes malignant B cell tumors and reduces circulating antibody levels.
Researchers at Stanford University have found a connection between aging, infection, and leukemia in blood-forming stem cells. These cells were found to produce fewer immune cells and turn on cancer-causing genes, contributing to the development of certain types of leukemia.
Researchers describe a method to distinguish and separate healthy sperm stem cells from leukemic cells in mice. The transplanted cells successfully colonized and produced healthy offspring, paving the way for the treatment of infertility caused by chemotherapy in childhood leukemia patients.
A new study reveals that transplantation of healthy germ cells can restore fertility in males who have undergone chemotherapy for childhood leukemia. Additionally, researchers identified a potential biomarker, claudin-1, which may be exploited to detect colon cancer progression and inform therapeutic strategies.
A randomized trial found that the ALL-2 regimen of cytarabine with high-dose mitoxantrone improved complete remission rates and survival outcomes for patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. The regimen demonstrated a significant survival advantage, particularly in patients with the Philadelphia chromosome genetic predisposition.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a novel anti-leukemia drug, PD166326, that is nearly 100 times more potent than the current treatment, Gleevec. The study shows the new drug effectively inhibits mutated enzyme activity and reduces white blood cell count in mice with leukemia.
Researchers identified a common genetic mutation, JAK2, in patients with polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis. The study used high-throughput DNA sequencing analysis to compare blood and mouth-swab samples from 164 PV patients, 115 ET patients, and 46 MMM patients.
Recent research in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) identifies genetic and protein markers that can predict patient outcomes. These new markers may enable earlier treatment, improving survival rates and altering the disease's progression.
Researchers found that mice with leukemia develop a similar DNA methylation pattern as humans, identifying a new gene linked to cancer. The study uses genome-wide sequencing to map tiny bits of DNA and reveals a potential target for intervention.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a new compound, AMN107, which targets Bcr-Abl kinase protein responsible for CML growth. In laboratory cell cultures and mice with the disease, AMN107 demonstrated effectiveness in killing CML cells and inducing longer remissions compared to Gleevec.
A mouse model of leukemia reveals a causal link between Shp2 mutations and leukemia, pointing to these mutants as attractive therapeutic targets. The study's findings suggest that current treatments are often ineffective and highlight the need for clinical trials of Ras/Mek inhibitors.
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have developed a new hybrid targeted therapy, AMN107, which kills CML cells more effectively than Gleevec and triggers longer remissions in mice. The study's findings suggest that AMN107 may be an effective treatment option for patients with Gleevec-resistant disease.
Researchers using 'heavy water' tracked leukemia cell birth and death rates, revealing dynamic process with mortal cells that proliferate and die. The study found faster birth rates of leukemia cells correlate with poorer patient outcomes, paving the way for potential new methods of prediction and treatment guidance.
Researchers found that CLL cells divide at a fast rate and their production is variable, leading to fluctuations in disease activity. This dynamic interplay between cell division and death rates challenges the long-held view of CLL as an accumulative disorder.
Researchers have discovered a new leukemia drug that can overcome all forms of Gleevec resistance, a significant breakthrough for patients with advanced CML. The drug, ON012380, blocks a different site in the BCR-ABL protein and induces cell death in all known Gleevec-resistant mutants.
A new technique allows for successful cord blood transplants in high-risk acute and chronic leukemia patients, with disease-free survival rates of 57% at one year. The study's findings offer hope to thousands more patients who were previously ineligible due to lack of suitable donor units.
Researchers found that leukemia cells overexpress Lyn enzyme, allowing them to evade apoptosis. Inhibiting Lyn activity restored normal cell death processes and decreased malignant cell growth.
A combination of two biologic agents, alemtuzumab and rituximab, with chemotherapy has shown a promising response rate of 55% in CLL relapse patients. Complete remission was achieved by 23% of patients, while leukemia levels were reduced by at least half in 35% of cases.
A study found that cord blood stem cells can be used in transplants for leukemia patients without a matched relative or donor, resulting in high survival rates. The availability of umbilical cord blood provides a logical choice for doctors and patients when a matching bone marrow donor cannot be found.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found a gene-silencing technique that induces cell death in drug-resistant CML cells. The technique targets the Lyn kinase enzyme, which is essential for cancerous blood cells to survive and grow.
Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have received a $5 million grant to develop new drugs targeting leukemia. The project aims to selectively inhibit altered proteins in leukemia patients, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism for the formation of active cancer genes in T-cell acute lymphatic leukemia (T-ALL), leading to an uncontrolled growth of immature white blood cells. The study suggests using Glivec, a kinase inhibitor that targets ABL1, as a potential treatment for T-ALL patients.
Researchers found that a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, and protein sources like beef and beans can lower the risk of childhood leukemia. Glutathione, an antioxidant found in these foods, plays a key role in reducing cancer risk.
Researchers found that Smad3 protein was present in B-cell and non-lymphocyte samples but almost absent in T-cell samples. In mice, deletion of the Smad3 gene impairs TGF-B's ability to stop T-cell proliferation. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms behind Smad3's absence in childhood T-cell leukemia.