Hematopoiesis News Volume 2.25 | Jun 28 2011

Genetic Finding Offers Hope for Orphan Disease
New research offers hope for people with a rare disorder called Chuvash polycythemia. [Press release from the University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in Nature Medicine]

Cellular Dynamics International Unlocks the Potential of Banked Blood Samples
Cellular Dynamics International announced for the first time a methodology for researchers to access the biology stored in repositories of banked blood samples through the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells. [Press release from Cellular Dynamics International discussing online prepublication in Blood]

Study Shows Leukothera™ Combined with Other Agents Has Enhanced Anti-Leukemia Effects
Recent findings showed that when combined with standard anti-leukemia agents, the biological activity of Leukothera™ showed synergistic anti-leukemia effects. [PR Newswire discussing online prepublication in Leukemia Research]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Loss of JAK2 Regulation Via a Heterodimeric VHL-SOCS1 (Supressor of Cytokine Signaling 1) E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Underlies Chuvash Polycythemia
Researchers showed that von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) directly binds SOCS1 to form a heterodimeric E3 ligase that targets phosphorylated JAK2 for ubiquitin-mediated destruction. [Nat Med]

Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 Mediates Pain in Mice with Severe Sickle Cell Disease
Scientists provided the first study that explores nociceptor sensitization mechanisms that contribute to pain behavior in mice with severe sickle cell disease. [Blood]

Hepcidin Regulates Ferroportin Expression and Intracellular Iron Homeostasis of Erythroblasts
Investigators have demonstrated that ferroportin (FPN1) localizes to the plasma membrane of erythroblasts, and hepcidin treatment leads to decreased expression of FPN1 and a subsequent increase in intracellular iron concentrations in both erythroblast cell lines and primary erythroblasts. [Blood]

Human Lymphoblastoid B Cell Lines Reprogrammed to Epstein-Barr Virus-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Scientists reported the generation of induced pluripotent cells from two lymphoblastoid B cell lines via a feeder-free episomal method using a cocktail of transcription factors and small molecules. [Blood]

Deregulated Apoptosis Signaling in Core-Binding Factor Leukemia Differentiates Clinically Relevant, Molecular Marker-Independent Subgroups
Current findings show deregulated inhibitor of apoptosis expression and apoptotic signaling to differentiate clinically relevant core-binding factor subgroups, which were independent of known molecular markers, thereby providing a starting point for novel therapeutic approaches. [Leukemia]

Transformation of Human Mesenchymal Cells and Skin Fibroblasts into Hematopoietic Cells
To determine whether nonhematopoietic cells can be reprogrammed into hematopoietic cells, human mesenchymal stromal cells and skin fibroblasts were incubated with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine and the growth factors granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and stem cell factor. [PLoS One]

In Vitro Synergism Between Leukocyte Function Antigen Targeting Leukotoxin (Leukothera™) and Standard Chemotherapeutic Agents in Leukemia Cells
In this report, researchers demonstrated that Leukothera™ induces very rapid (1 h) apoptosis in acute monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells characterized by binding of annexin V to cells, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, depletion of cellular ATP, and fragmentation of chromosomal DNA. [Leuk Res]

MicroRNA-146a and AMD3100, Two Ways to Control CXCR4 Expression in Acute Myeloid Leukemias
The data indicates that microRNA-146a and AMD3100, acting through different mechanism, downmodulate CXCR4 protein levels, impair leukemic cell proliferation and then may be used in combination with anti-leukemia drugs, for development of new therapeutic strategies. [Blood Cancer J]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Chronic Immune Stimulation Might Act as a Trigger for the Development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndromes
To additionally expand the knowledge on the role of immune stimulation in the causation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), investigators have conducted a large, population-based study to evaluate the risk of AML and MDS associated with a prior history of a broad range of infections or autoimmune diseases. [J Clin Oncol]

Clinical Outcome in Children and Adolescents with Hodgkin Lymphoma After Treatment with Chemotherapy Alone – The Results of the United Kingdom HD3 National Cohort Trial
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a standardized hybrid chemotherapy treatment program for Hodgkin lymphoma in a national series of children and adolescents. [Eur J Cancer]

Omeros Unlocks Orphan GPCRs Linked to Leukemia and Sleep Disorders
Omeros Corporation reported that it has identified compounds that interact with orphan G protein-coupled receptors P2Y8 and OPN4. [Omeros Corporation Press Release]

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Epizyme Partner to Develop Personalized Therapeutic for Genetically-Defined Mixed Lineage Leukemia (MLL) Patients
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Epizyme announced that they will jointly support pre-clinical and Phase I development of Epizyme’s DOT1L-targeted histone methyltransferase inhibitor for MLL, a devastating acute leukemia that affects both pediatric and adult patients. [Epizyme, Inc. Press Release]

Takeda Announces EMA Acceptance of Marketing Authorization Application for ADCETRIS™ (Brentuximab Vedotin)
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited together with its wholly-owned subsidiary Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the filing of the Marketing Authorization Application for ADCETRIS™ (brentuximab vedotin) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. [Takeda Pharmaceutical Company]

EpiCept Receives Initial FDA Comments on Application for Ceplene® Special Protocol Assessment
EpiCept Corporation announced that it has received initial written responses from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Company’s application for a Special Protocol Assessment of the Ceplene® (histamine dihydrochloride) Phase III protocol. [EpiCept Corporation Press Release]

FDA Modifies Dosing Recommendations for Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended more conservative dosing guidelines for Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents when used to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease because of the increased risks of cardiovascular events such as stroke, thrombosis, and death. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)
 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)
 
European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW Cancer Research Global Summit
August 16-17, 2011
London, United Kingdom

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