TOP STORY Elasticity Found to Stretch Stem Cell Growth to Higher Levels One of the major challenges in stem cell transplants is how to obtain sufficient numbers of these remarkably rare cells to put into patients. To help overcome this issue, researchers have found a way to increase the number of blood-forming stem cells when growing them outside of the body. [Press release from the Centenary Institute discussing online prepublication in the Nature Biotechnology]
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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by Impact Factor of the Journal) LABORATORY RESEARCH Long Noncoding RNAs with Enhancer-Like Function in Human Cells Using heterologous transcription assays, researchers demonstrated a requirement for the noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in activation of gene expression. These results reveal an unanticipated role for a class of long ncRNAs in activation of critical regulators of development and differentiation. [Cell] Substrate Elasticity Provides Mechanical Signals for the Expansion of Hemopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells The data suggest that substrate elasticity and tensegrity are important mechanisms influencing hemopoietic stem and progenitor cell subsets and could be exploited to facilitate cell culture. [Nat Biotechnol] Enhancement of RAD51 Recombinase Activity by the Tumor Suppressor PALB2 The results demonstrate the multifaceted role of PALB2 in chromosome damage repair. Because PALB2 mutations can cause cancer or Fanconi anemia, the findings shed light on the mechanism of tumor suppression in humans. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Killer Ig-Like Receptor-Mediated Control of Natural Killer Cell Alloreactivity in Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recent studies suggested that, following immune-suppressive therapy, alloreactive natural killer cells from an HLA-haploidentical donor may prevent leukemia recurrence also in patients who have not received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Blood] Dysfunction of the Heme Recycling System in Heme Oxygenase 1 Deficient Mice: Effects on Macrophage Viability and Tissue Iron Distribution To better understand the tissue iron overload and anemia previously reported in a human patient and mice that lack heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), researchers studied iron distribution and pathology in HO-1-/- mice. [Blood] C/EBPAlpha-Regulated microRNA-34a Targets E2F3 During Granulopoiesis and is Downregulated in AML with CEBPA Mutations In this study, researchers report that miR-34a is a novel target of C/EBPalpha in granulopoiesis. [Blood] Overexpression of Survivin Initiates Hematologic Malignancies In Vivo Here, researchers show that transgenic mice that overexpress survivin in hematopoietic cells are at an increased risk of hematologic tumors. [Leukemia] CLINICAL RESEARCH Unrelated Cord Blood Transplantation in Adults with Myelodysplasia or Secondary Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia: A Survey on Behalf of Eurocord and CLWP of EBMT The aim of the study was to evaluate, through the Eurocord and European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registries, outcomes and risk factors for outcomes in adult patients who underwent single or double unrelated cord blood transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome or secondary acute myeloblastic leukemia. [Leukemia] Delayed Platelet Recovery After Allogeneic Transplantation: A Predictor of Increased Treatment-Related Mortality and Poorer Survival Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of all allografts at the University of Minnesota between 2000 and 2005 to characterize the frequency of delayed platelet recovery, risk factors and related complications. [Bone Marrow Transplant]
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INDUSTRY NEWS Seattle Genetics and Millennium Announce Positive Top-Line Brentuximab Vedotin (SGN-35) Data From Pivotal Trial in Relapsed and Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma The Takeda Oncology Company announced positive top-line results from the pivotal trial of single-agent brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeted to CD30. The trial was conducted in 102 relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients. [Seattle Genetics, Inc. Press Release] Astellas Pharma Inc.: Submits Application for Marketing Approval of Darexaban (YM150), an Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor, in Japan Astellas Pharma Inc. announced that it submitted a market authorization application for darexaban maleate (“darexaban”; generic name; development code name: YM150) to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. [Astellas Pharma Inc. Press Release] McLean Researchers Awarded $1.9 Million Grant for Stem Cell, Blood Research Researchers at Harvard-Affiliated McLean Hospital have been awarded a $1.9 million National Institutes of Health Director’s Opportunity Award to continue their research into creating human induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells using a method aimed at eliminating the risk of cancer and other problems associated with other options such as genome-integrating viral methods. [McLean Hospital Press Release] Juvaris BioTherapeutics Announces Publication of Preclinical Anti-Leukemic Effects of JVRS-100 Immunotherapy Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc. announced that results from preclinical studies using its lead compound, JVRS-100, as an immunotherapy to treat acute myelogenous leukemia were published. [Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc. Press Release] Sunesis Prices $15.5 Million Offering Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the pricing of an underwritten offering of approximately 44.1 million units, each consisting of one share of its common stock and a warrant to purchase 0.5 of a share of its common stock, at a public offering price of $0.35 per unit, for gross proceeds of approximately $15.5 million. [Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release] Study to Investigate Menstrual Blood-Derived Stem Cells as Potential Stroke Therapy The potential for stem cells derived from menstrual blood to benefit stroke sufferers will be jointly investigated by researchers at the University of South Florida, Cryo-Cell International, Inc. a global stem cell company based in Oldsmar, FL,, and Saneron CCEL Therapeutics, Inc., a Tampa-based biotechnology company. [University of South Florida Press Release]
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POLICY NEWS NIH Grants Will Advance Studies of the Form and Function of Proteins The National Institutes of Health has awarded 23 grants for structural biology research totaling up to $290 million over five years. [National Institutes of Health, United States] NCBI Launches the Database of Genomic Structural Variations The National Institutes of Health announced the launch of a new resource, called the Database of Genomic Structural Variation, or dbVar, to help scientists understand how differences in DNA contribute to human health and disease. [National Institutes of Health, United States] Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Jobs and Promote Investment in Life Sciences U.S. Representatives introduced bipartisan legislation that will provide tax incentives for small and mid-sized businesses to invest in life sciences research and development on a targeted basis. The Life Sciences Jobs and Investment Act of 2010 provides an opportunity to enhance medical innovation, life sciences education and job creation in the United States. [House of Representatives, United States] NIH and FDA Announce Awards to Advance Regulatory Science The National Institutes of Health will award $9.4 million over three years to support four research projects in regulatory science. This research is conducted in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which will contribute approximately $950,000. [National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration, United States] Clarification of the Submission Date for Applications for Program Projects for Collaborative Research on the Basic Biology of Pluripotency and Reprogramming (P01) (RFA-GM-11-005) (NOT-GM-10-109) [National Institute of General Medical Sciences, United States] Tumor Microenvironment Network (TMEN) (U54) (RFA-CA-10-021) [Department of Health and Human Services, United States] Resource Related Research Projects for Development of Animal Models and Related Materials (R24) (PAR-10-289) [National Center for Research Resources, United States] Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40) (PAR-11-001) [National Center for Research Resources, United States] NHLBI Translational Research Implementation Program (TRIP) – Limited Competition – (P50) (RFA-HL-12-003) [National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, United States]
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