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5- and 10-year survival continues to improve for US children with hematologic malignancies

Advances in treatment have led to increased long-term survival for US children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Period analysis reveals improved survival rates between 1990 and 2004, with projections suggesting continued progress through molecularly targeted therapies.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 9, 2008

JCI online early table of contents: August 7, 2008

Researchers explore new treatments for psoriasis, revealing a potential therapeutic option in AEB071, while cautioning further clinical trials are needed. Additionally, studies uncover the reasons behind gene therapy complications in SCID patients, shedding light on insertional oncogenesis and acquired somatic mutations.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 7, 2008

Math could help cure leukemia

Researchers have developed a mathematical model that predicts optimal timing for a cancer vaccine in CML patients based on their immune response, which may lead to a cure. The model suggests boosting the immune system at a specific time when it starts weakening can provide a strong stimulation to combat leukemia cells.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 19, 2008

Combining math and medicine to treat leukemia

A new mathematical model could lead to personalized vaccines for CML patients, strengthening the immune system during its weakest point. The study uses data from four years of imatinib therapy and recommends 'cancer vaccines' to combat drug resistance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 19, 2008

JCI table of contents: March 20, 2008

Researchers have identified a crucial role for antibodies in protecting against nontyphoidal strains of Salmonella bacteria, which causes fatal infections in African children. Meanwhile, a study on HOXB4 gene therapy found that early precursors can cause leukemia in large animals, highlighting the need for extreme caution in human trials.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 20, 2008

Gene therapy protocol at UCSD activates immune system in patients with leukemia

Researchers at UCSD developed a gene therapy protocol that successfully activated the immune system in six patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The protocol introduced a gene with potential to activate an immune response and resulted in the production of antibodies reacting against leukemia cells.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 11, 2008

Dasatinib, Nilotinib show strong early results as frontline therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia

Two drugs, dasatinib and nilotinib, are showing promising results as frontline therapy for newly diagnosed CML patients with high complete cytogenetic response rates of approximately 90% at 6 months. The treatments target a greater variety of genetic variations than imatinib, which has increased the 5-year survival rate for CML patient...

Novel MS drug shows promise in 2 lethal leukemias

Researchers discovered that an experimental multiple sclerosis drug, fingolimod, may also help patients with certain lethal forms of leukemia. The study found that the drug prevents cancer cell development and kills leukemia cells in mouse models, suggesting a promising new approach for treating resistant cases.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 28, 2007

University of Pennsylvania researchers develop formula to gauge risk of disease clusters

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a mathematical formula to assess disease cluster risk, providing an exact probability calculation in under five seconds. The formula was used to investigate two disease clusters, one likely due to chance and the other possibly caused by a common environmental factor.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 16, 2007

Antioxidant found in many foods and red wine is potent and selective killer of leukemia cells

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.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateApr 23, 2007

Grafts against cancer

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.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 1, 2007

Discovery in 'Bubble Boy' disease gene therapy

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.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 1, 2006

Nilotinib appears to help chronic myelogenous leukemia patients when standard care fails

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 14, 2006