Hematopoiesis News Volume 1.41 | Oct 26 2010

SIRT1 Deficiency Compromises Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Hematopoietic Differentiation, and Embryonic and Adult Hematopoiesis in the Mouse 
Researchers examined hematopoietic and endothelial cell differentiation of SIRT1-/- mouse embryonic stem cells in vitro, and hematopoietic progenitors in SIRT1+/+, +/-, and -/- mice. [Blood]

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UC San Diego Researchers Identify Factor Boosting Leukemia’s Aggressiveness
A team of researchers identify a particular relationship that can promote notably aggressive leukemias and lymphomas. They looked specifically at a protein called B cell activating factor or BAFF, which is produced in high levels by “nurselike cells” in the chronic lymphocytic leukemia microenvironment. [Press release from the University of California, San Diego discussing online prepublication in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA]

Some Leukemia Patients May Be Able to Safely Stop Treatment
New medical trials suggest some chronic leukemia patients who are in complete remission may be cured by the standard drug used to treat the condition and can safely discontinue its use. [Press release from PhysOrg discussing online prepublication in The Lancet Oncology]

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LABORATORY RESEARCH

Genome-Wide Identification of Human microRNAs Located in Leukemia-Associated Genomic Alterations
Here, researchers investigated miRNAs relevant to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by; 1) mapping miRNAs within leukemia-associated genomic alterations in human AML cell lines by high-resolution genome arrays, and 2) evaluating absolute expression of these miRNAs by massively parallel small RNA sequencing. [Blood]

Dynamic Combinatorial Interactions of RUNX1 and Cooperating Partners Regulates Megakaryocytic Differentiation in Cell Line Models
Researchers used megakaryocytic cell lines to characterize the network of RUNX1 targets and cooperating transcription factors (TFs) in differentiating megakaryocytes and demonstrated how dynamic partnerships between RUNX1 and cooperating TFs facilitated regulatory plasticity and specificity during this process. [Blood]

B Cell Activating Factor and v-Myc Myelocytomatosis Viral Oncogene Homolog (c-Myc) Influence Progression of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
This study reveals an important relationship between B cell activating factor and c-MYC in chronic lymphocytic leukemia which may affect disease development and progression, and suggests that inhibitors of the canonical NF-(kappa)B pathway may be effective in treatment of patients with this disease. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]

Follicular Dendritic Cell-Induced MicroRNA-Mediated Upregulation of PRDM1 and Downregulation of BCL-6 in Non-Hodgkin’s B Cell Lymphomas
The studies define a novel regulatory mechanism in which the follicular dendritic cell, through induction of miRNAs in B lymphocytes, orchestrates the regulation of transcription factors, promotes germinal center B cell survival and differentiation. [Leukemia]

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Type Gamma Is a Functional Tumor Suppressor Gene Specifically Downregulated in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
The findings establish, for the first time, protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type gamma as a tumor suppressor gene involved in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia, suggesting its use as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target. [Cancer Res]

PML-RAR(Alpha) and Dnmt3a1 Cooperate In Vivo to Promote Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
Here, researchers show that increased expression of Dnmt3a1 cooperates with PML-RAR(alpha) in vivo to promote early lethality secondary to myeloid expansion and dysfunction in primary mice. [Cancer Res]

Histone Methyltransferase MLL1 Regulates MDR1 Transcription and Chemoresistance
This is the first identification of a histone methyltransferase and its leukemogenic rearrangement that regulates expression of an ATP-binding cassette drug transporter, suggesting a new target for circumvention of tumor multidrug resistance. [Cancer Res]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Discontinuation of Imatinib in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Who Have Maintained Complete Molecular Remission for at Least 2 Years: The Prospective, Multicentre Stop Imatinib (STIM) Trial
Researchers aimed to assess whether imatinib can be discontinued without occurrence of molecular relapse in patients in complete molecular remission while on imatinib. [J Clin Oncol]

Infusion of HLA-Mismatched Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Improves Outcome of Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Elderly Patients
These results indicate that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized donor peripheral blood stem cells in combination with conventional chemotherapy may provide a promising treatment modality for acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients. [Blood]

A Phase II Study of Combination Therapy with Arsenic Trioxide and Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes or Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia
In the current study, phase II study data of arsenic trioxide and gemtuzumab ozogamicin in CD33-positive patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and secondary acute myeloid leukemia were presented. [Cancer]

CIRM Awards $5.8 Million to Two UCSD Researchers for Early Translational Research Studies
Two scientists have received grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) for stem cell research. The grants are part of $67 million in Early Translation II Awards announced by CIRM, which are designed to move research out of the lab and into the clinic. [University of California, San Diego School of Medicine Press Release]

Micronics Receives $2.6 Million Molecular Diagnostic Blood Screening Award Under Defense Medical Research and Development Program (DMRDP)
Micronics, Inc. announced that the Department of Defense has awarded the company an Applied Research and Technology Development Award under the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command’s Polytrauma and Blast Injury project for advancement of its PanNAT system for point-of-care molecular diagnosis of infectious pathogens. [Micronics, Inc. Press Release]

Thermogenesis Announces Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Res-Q Cardiovascular Licensing Agreement
ThermoGenesis Corp. a leading supplier of innovative products and services that process and store adult stem cells, said it has entered into a license and distribution agreement for its Res-Q(TM) 60 BMC (Res-Q) System with BioParadox, Inc., a newly-formed regenerative medicine company focusing on point-of-care cardiovascular therapies. [ThermoGenesis Corp. Press Release]

Combining Stem-Cell and Gene-Therapy Techniques to Tackle a Deadly Blood Disease
The National Institutes of Health has awarded a three-year, $3.9 million grant to Children’s Hospital Boston researchers and their colleagues to develop a therapy to treat Fanconi anemia, a fatal genetic blood disease. [Children’s Hospital Boston Press Release]

Sanofi-Aventis Wins $442 Million Award Against Apotex Over Plavix Patent
Sanofi-Aventis SA won a $442 million judgment against Apotex Inc. over the patent for the blood thinner Plavix, the world’s second-biggest selling drug. [Bloomberg]

NIH Recovery Act Awards Enable Crucial Health Research Technologies
Thanks to the Recovery Act, more health scientists now will have access to state-of-the-art devices, the National Institutes of Health announced. Through its National Center for Research Resources, NIH has awarded $300 million in shared instrumentation grants.  [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26362) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26363) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26317) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26497) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26499) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26028) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26702) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings (FR Doc. 2010-26706) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

National Cancer Institute; Notice of Closed Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26390) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting (FR Doc. 2010-26036) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

Export of Human Blood/Tissue and Related Materials [Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia]

Public Submissions: Proposed Standards and Code of GMP for Human Blood and Blood Components, Human Tissues and Human Cellular Therapies [Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia]

Public Submissions: Proposed Standards for Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Intended for Use in Hematopoietic Reconstitution [Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia]

Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium Leipzig 2010
October 29-30, 2010
Leipzig, Germany

Queen Mary University of London: 5th UK Cancer Stem Cell Symposium
November 2, 2010
London, United Kingdom

9th Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) International Conference: Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research
November 7-10, 2010
Philadelphia, United States

22nd European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)-National Cancer Institute (NCI)-American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Symposium: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
November 16-19, 2010
Berlin, Germany

9th Annual Gene Therapy Symposium for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases
November 17-19, 2010
Sonoma, United States

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

5th Annual Stem Cell Meeting on the Mesa
December 7, 2010
La Jolla, United States

Highlights of American Society of Hematology (ASH) Vancouver
January 21-22, 2011
Vancouver, Canada

Highlights of American Society of Hematology (ASH) Washington, D.C.
January 28-29, 2011
Washington, D.C., United States

Highlights of American Society of Hematology (ASH) San Francisco
January 28-29, 2011
San Francisco, United States

Highlights of American Society of Hematology (ASH) New York
February 4-5, 2011
New York, United States

Highlights of American Society of Hematology (ASH) San Diego
February 4-5, 2011
San Diego, United States

BMT Tandem Meetings (ASBMT/CIBMTR)
February 17-21, 2011
Honolulu, Hawaii

Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference: Inaugural Circulating Tumor Cells for Cancer Detection, Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment
February 23-25, 2011
San Francisco, United States

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Stem Cells, Development, and Cancer
March 3-6, 2011
Vancouver, Canada

Keystone Symposia: Hematopoiesis
March 27-April 1, 2011
Big Sky, United States

NEW United Kingdom National Stem Cell Network 2011 Annual Scientific Conference
March 30-April 1, 2011
York, United Kingdom

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 102nd Annual Meeting 2011
April 2-6, 2011
Orlando, United States

37th Annual Meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
April 3-6, 2011
Paris, France

International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 9th Annual Meeting
June 15-18, 2011
Toronto, Canada

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