Hematopoiesis News Volume 2.09 | Mar 8 2011

Promyelocytic Leukemia–Retinoic Acid Receptor α (PML-RARA) Can Increase Hematopoietic Self-Renewal Without Causing a Myeloproliferative Disease in Mice
At physiologic doses, PML-RARA primarily acts to increase hematopoietic progenitor self-renewal, expanding a population of cells that are susceptible to acquiring secondary mutations that cause progression to leukemia. [J Clin Invest]

Researchers Discover How Cancer Cheats Immune System: Team Finds Clues in Two Lymphoma Types
Scientists have discovered that a single gene, CIITA, is implicated in almost 40 percent of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas and 15 percent of all Hodgkin lymphoma cases. [Press release from the British Columbia Cancer Agency discussing online prepublication in Nature]

Research Identifies Small Subset of Normal White Blood Cells That Gives Rise to a Rare Leukemia
New research has identified a small subset of normal white blood cells in the body that gives rise to a rare incurable form of leukemia. [Press release from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation]

Cellceutix Discovers Drug Activates – Guardian Angel p53 – in Fight Against Leukemia
Cellceutix Corporation reported that its flagship cancer compound, Kevetrin™, has demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity in the treatment of leukemia cells in a hematopoietic xenograft tumor model. [Cellceutix Corporation Press Release]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Transactivator CIITA Is a Recurrent Gene Fusion Partner in Lymphoid Cancers
Here scientists show a highly expressed gene fusion involving the major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator CIITA (MHC2TA) in KM-H2 cells. [Nature]

CXCL1 and its Receptor, CXCR2, Mediate Murine Sickle Cell Vaso-Occlusion during Hemolytic Transfusion Reactions
Researchers established a model of alloimmune, IgG-mediated hemolytic transfusion reactions in a well-characterized humanized murine model of sickle cell disease. [J Clin Invest]

Predicting Clonal Self-Renewal and Extinction of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Investigators used an interdisciplinary approach, combining transplantation assays with mathematical and computational methods, to systematically analyze the proliferative potential of individual hematopoietic stem cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Jagged2 Acts as a Delta-Like Notch Ligand During Early Hematopoietic Cell Fate Decisions
Results reveal a unique role for Jagged1 in preventing the induction of T-lineage differentiation in hematopoietic stem cells and show an unexpected functional similarity between Jagged2 and the Delta-like ligands. [Blood]

The c-Myb Target Gene Neuromedin U Functions as a Novel Cofactor During the Early Stages of Erythropoiesis
Data strongly support that the c-Myb target gene neuromedin U functions as a novel cofactor for erythropoiesis and expands early erythroblasts. [Blood]

miR-34a Induces the Down-Regulation of Both E2F1 and B-Myb Oncogenes in Leukemic Cells
The purpose of the study is to elucidate new molecular mechanisms able to down-regulate the mRNA levels of key oncogenes, such as B-Myb and E2F1, in a therapeutic perspective. [Clin Cancer Res]

Tipifarnib-Induced Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma Cells Is Dependent on Ca²⁺ Influx through Plasma Membrane Ca²⁺ Channels
Results indicate tipifarnib causes cell death via a novel mechanism involving activation of a plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channel and intracellular Ca²⁺ overload. [J Pharmacol Exp Ther]

Hodgkin Lymphoma Risk: Role of Genetic Polymorphisms and Gene-Gene Interactions in DNA Repair Pathways
Researchers hypothesized that gene-gene interaction between candidate genes in direct reversal, nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair and double strand break pathways may contribute to susceptibility to Hodgkin lymphoma. [Mol Carcinog]

YBX1 Expression and Function in Early Hematopoiesis and Leukemic Cells
Here, scientists show that Y-box protein (YBX1) is highly expressed in mouse erythroid myeloid lymphoid-clone 1 (EML) but is down-regulated in myeloid progenitors and GM-CSF-treated EML cells during the course of myeloid differentiation. [Immunogenetics]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

NKp46 Identifies an NKT Cell Subset Susceptible to Leukemic Transformation in Mouse and Human
Researchers show that in both mice and humans, NKp46 expression marks a minute population of WT NKT cells with higher activity and potency to become leukemic. [J Clin Invest]

Myelodysplasia and Leukemia of Fanconi Anemia Are Associated with a Specific Pattern of Genomic Abnormalities that Includes Cryptic RUNX1/AML1 Lesions
Data have implications for staging and therapeutic managing in Fanconi anemia patients, and also to analyze the mechanisms of clonal evolution and oncogenesis in a background of genomic instability and bone marrow failure. [Blood]

Biovest Is Awarded Orphan Drug Status for Its Personalized Cancer Vaccine for the Treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma in European Union
Biovest International, Inc. announced that BiovaxID® has been designated as an “Orphan Medicinal Product” by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma. [Biovest International, Inc. Press Release]

Marcucci Assumes New Role in Ohio State Cancer Program
Dr. Guido Marcucci has been appointed associate director of translational research for the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. [The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Press Release]

Additional Indications for Kancera Leukemia Project
ROR-1, target for the Kancera treatment for chronic lymphatic leukemia, has been identified on the surface of eight additional blood cancers. [Kancera Press Release]

EpiCept Identifies Ceplene® Survival Benefit in Key AML Subgroup
EpiCept Corporation announced the Company has identified a statistically significant survival benefit in a subgroup of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patients in its previous Phase III trial with Ceplene® (histamine dihydrochloride) administered with low-dose interleukin-2. [EpiCept Corporation Press Release]

Plexxikon Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial in Hodgkin Lymphoma with PLX3397
Plexxikon announced that it has treated the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial in Hodgkin lymphoma with PLX3397.  [Plexxikon Press Release]

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 European School of Haematology Workshop: Leukemic and Cancer Stem Cells
April 29-May 1, 2011
Mandelieu, France

NEW European School of Haematology – International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation 12th International Conference: Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia – Biological Basis of Therapy
September 24-26, 2011
Washington, United States

NEW European School of Hematology – European Hematology Association Scientific Workshop: ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA “MOLECULAR”
October 14-16, 2011
Madndelieu, France

NEW International Society on Thrombosis & Hemostasis – European School of Hematology: Advanced Course in Thrombosis & Hemostasis
November 7-10, 2011
Cascais, Portugal

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the hematopoietic community.

Lab Technologist – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Bone and Hematopoiesis (New York University)

Research Associate (University of Massachusetts Medical School)

Post-Doctoral Research Fellows – Transcriptional Control in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Leukemia (Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal) 

Research Technologist – Pharmaceutical Sciences (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

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