Hematopoiesis News Volume 1.07 | Mar 2 2010

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    Hematopoiesis News 1.07, March 2, 2010.  
    In this issue: Science News  |  Current Publications  |  Industry News  |  Policy News  |  EventsSubscribe  |  Unsubscribe

    TOP STORY

    A Zinc-Finger Transcriptional Activator Designed to Interact with the Gamma-Globin Gene Promoters Enhances Fetal Hemoglobin Production in Primary Human Adult Erythroblasts
    Researchers utilized an in vitro culture model of human erythropoiesis in which late stage erythroblasts are derived directly from human CD34+ hematopoietic cells to evaluate fetal hemoglobin production. [Blood]

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    SCIENCE NEWS

    Study Should Prove Helpful In Quest For Safer, More Effective Blood Substitutes
    This study gives researchers new insights in how to better understand and control a severe side effect of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers. [Press release from Medical News Today discussing online prepublication in Anesthesiology]
     
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    CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

    LABORATORY RESEARCH

    GCS-100, A Novel Galectin-3 Antagonist, Modulates MCL-1, NOXA, and Cell Cycle to Induce Myeloma Cell Death
    In the present study, the mechanisms of action of GCS-100 are elucidated in myeloma cell lines and primary tumour cells. [Blood]

    Scl Isoforms Act Downstream of Etsrp to Specify Angioblasts and Definitive Hematopoietic Stem Cells
    Zebrafish etsrp , which is essential for vascular endothelial development, also plays a critical role in the initiation of definitive hematopoiesis by controlling the expression of two scl isoforms (scl-alpha and scl-beta) in angioblasts. [Blood]

    Subtle Distinct Regulations of Late Erythroid Molecular Events by PI3K/AKT-Mediated Activation of Spi-1/PU.1 Oncogene Autoregulation Loop
    Researchers show a positive feedback loop that couples constitutive phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling to high expression of Spi-1/PU.1 in Friend erythroleukemia cells. [Oncogene]

    Single Amino-Acid Changes that Confer Constitutive Activation of mTOR are Discovered in Human Cancer
    Researchers report that two different point mutations, S2215Y and R2505P, identified in human cancer genome database confer constitutive activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling even under nutrient starvation conditions. [Oncogene]

    Investigating the Key Membrane Protein Changes During In Vitro Erythropoiesis of Protein 4.2 (-) Cells (Mutations Chartres 1 and 2)
    Researchers have established that the characteristic changes caused by protein 4.2 deficiency occur early during erythropoiesis. They postulate that weakening of the ankyrin-1-band 3 association during protein 4.2 deficiency is compensated, in part, by increased CD44-cytoskeleton binding. [Haematologica]

    Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Non-Selectively Protect Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells From Imatinib-Induced Apoptosis Via the CXCR4/CXCL12 Axis
    Human mesenchymal stromal cells mediate protection of chronic myeloid leukaemia cells from imatinib-induced apoptosis. Disruption of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis at least in part restores sensitivity to imatinib. [Haematologica]

    CLINICAL RESEARCH

    Rituximab Plus Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide Prolongs Progression-Free Survival Compared With Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide Alone in Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
    This trial was designed to compare chemoimmunotherapy with chemotherapy alone in patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [J Clin Oncol]

    Improved Survival of Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease
    Researchers studied the Dallas Newborn Cohort to estimate contemporary 18-year survival for newborns with sickle cell disease and document changes in the causes and ages of death over time. [Blood]

    Randomized PCR-Based Therapy and Risk Factors for Invasive Fungal Infection Following Reduced-Intensity Conditioning and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
    Researchers performed a prospective study to evaluate a PCR-based pre-emptive approach. Ninety-nine patients undergoing reduced-intensity conditioning hematopoietic stem cell transplantion were followed with fungal PCR during the first 100 days post transplantation. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

    Hematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy Activity in Asia: A Report from the Asia-Pacific Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group
    The hematopoietic stem cell therapy activity in nine Asian countries/regions was surveyed to overview the current situation. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

    INDUSTRY NEWS

    Geron Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Annual 2009 Financial Results and Highlights
    Net loss applicable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $18.4 million or $(0.20) per share, compared to $17.6 million or $(0.22) per share for the comparable 2008 period. [The Wall Street Journal]

    Rockwell Medical Announces Positive Phase IIb Clinical Data
    Rockwell Medical, a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company offering innovative products and services targeting end-stage renal disease, chronic kidney disease, and iron-deficiency anemia, summarized findings from its completed Phase IIb clinical study. [CNN Money]

    GTC Connects on $7 Million from French Partner
    GTC Biotherapeutics Inc. has added $7 million in new loans to the investments already received from its French strategic partner LFB Biotechnologies. The new money will enable GTC to move its hemophilia treatment into the clinic. [Boston Business Journal]

    New Philanthrophic Coalition Announced, Funding $5.7 Million for Pediatric Oncology Research
    Eight philanthropic organizations and families in the Charlotte region have joined forces to create the “Carolinas Kids Cancer Research Coalition,” which is providing funding for the introduction of Phase I and Phase II clinical trials by the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Center at Levine Children’s Hospital. [Carolinas Medical Center Press Release]

    Sunesis Poised For Phase III Trial Of Voreloxin In Acute Myeloid Leukemia After Completing Formal End-of-Phase II Meetings With U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    Sunesis Pharmaceuticals announced that it has completed formal End-of-Phase II meetings with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to its lead compound, voreloxin, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Sunesis has received feedback and guidance from the FDA in response to proposed plans for further development of voreloxin in the treatment of AML. [Sunesis Pharmaceuticals Press Release]

    POLICY NEWS

    Study Finds Stem Cell Research in the State of Maryland Supports More than 500 Local Jobs and Facilitates $71.3 Million in Business Sales Annually
    A recent third party economic development impact study conducted by Sage Policy Group, Inc., entitled “Economic Benefits of Maryland’s Stem Cell Program Already Apparent,” found that Maryland’s Stem Cell Research Fund supports 514 local jobs, with an average salary of $64,000, and facilitates $71.3 million in business sales in the state. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, United States]

    Idaho Senate Votes 21-13 for ‘Conscience’ Bill
    After a long and emotional debate, Senators voted 21-13 to allow pharmacists, nurses and other health-care workers to opt out of providing assistance for abortions, stem cell therapy, emergency contraception or end-of-life care, if they first tell their employers the procedures violate their conscience. [Idaho Senate, United States]

    Indian Council of Medical Research to Set Up Apex Committee to Regulate Stem Cell Research
    Indian Council of Medical Research said recently it would soon set up a body to regulate the scientific community on the crucial health research of stem cell therapy. [Indian Council of Medical Research, India]

    Suit Possible Over Baby DNA Sent to Military Lab for National Database
    An Austin lawyer threatened to pursue a new federal lawsuit after learning that some newborn blood samples in Texas went to the U.S. military for potential use in a database for law enforcement purposes. [The Statesman, United States]

    2009 Biological License Application Supplement Noteworthy Approvals [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

    2009 Biological New Drug Application (NDA) and Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) Approvals [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

    Grants for Research in Glomerular Diseases (R01) (PA-10-113) [National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, United States]

    MHRA Seeks Views On Making Information About Medicines Available Online – Your Last Chance to Input [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

    Information Sent to Healthcare Professionals in February 2010 About the Safety of Medicines [Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, United Kingdom]

    Prescription Medicines Business Process Reform Project: Improved Access to Information (Updated) [Therapeutic Goods Administration]

    EVENTS

    36th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood & Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
    March 21-24, 2010
    Vienna, Austria

    12th Biennial Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Group (CBMTG) Conference
    April 7-10, 2010
    Vancouver, Canada

    American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 101st Annual Meeting 2010
    April 17-21, 2010
    Washington, DC, United States

    International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 8th Annual Meeting
    June 16-19, 2010
    San Francisco, United States

    XXXIst International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in joint cooperation with the 43rd Congress of the German Society for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology (DGTI)
    June 26-July 1, 2010
    Berlin, Germany

    Society for Hematology and Stem Cells (ISEH) 2010 Meeting
    September 15-18, 2010
    Melbourne, Australia

    American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) Annual Meeting 2010
    October 9-12, 2010
    Baltimore, United States

    52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition
    December 4-7, 2010
    Orlando, United States

    Visit our events page to stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

     

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