Hematopoiesis News Volume 2.19 | May 17 2011

Sickle Cell Anemia Drug Shown Safe and Effective for Infants and Toddlers, Improving Treatment Options
New research shows a drug commonly used to treat sickle cell anemia in adults reduces bouts of acute pain and a pneumonia-like illness, cuts hospitalization time and eases other symptoms of the disease in young patients. [Press release from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital discussing online prepublication in The Lancet]

Zebrafish Models Identify High-Risk Genetic Features in Patients with Leukemia
Researchers working with zebrafish have identified previously undiscovered high-risk genetic features in T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia. [Press release from University of Utah Health Care discussing online prepublication in Oncogene]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

A Novel Tumor-Suppressor Function for the Notch Pathway in Myeloid Leukemia
Studies identify a novel role for Notch signaling during early hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and suggest that the Notch pathway can play both tumor-promoting and -suppressive roles within the same tissue. [Nature]

Genome-Wide Analysis of Simultaneous GATA1/2, RUNX1, FLI1, and SCL Binding in Megakaryocytes Identifies Hematopoietic Regulators
Scientists report the genome-wide binding sites for the five key hematopoietic transcription factors—GATA1, GATA2, RUNX1, FLI1, and TAL1/SCL—in primary human megakaryocytes. [Dev Cell]

CD48 on Hematopoietic Progenitors Regulates Stem Cells and Suppresses Tumor Formation
CD48 plays a vital role as an environmental sensor for regulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell numbers and inhibiting tumor development. [Blood]

Redirecting αβT Cells Against Cancer Cells by Transfer of a Broadly Tumor-Reactive γδT-Cell Receptor
The ability of a defined γ9/δ2 T-cell receptors to redirect αβT-cells selectively against tumor cells was tested and its molecular interaction with a variety of targets investigated. [Blood]

Shared Acquired Genomic Changes in Zebrafish and Human T-ALL
To discover the genetic changes occurring in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and those contributing to relapse, scientists studied zebrafish (Danio rerio) T-ALL samples using array comparative genomic hybridization. [Oncogene]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Hydroxycarbamide in Very Young Children with Sickle-Cell Anemia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial (BABY HUG)
Researchers assessed the effect of hydroxycarbamide therapy on organ dysfunction and clinical complications, and examined laboratory findings and toxic effects. [Lancet]

Targeted Therapy with the T-Cell–Engaging Antibody Blinatumomab of Chemotherapy-Refractory Minimal Residual Disease in B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients Results in High Response Rate and Prolonged Leukemia-Free Survival
A phase II clinical study was conducted to determine the efficacy of blinatumomab in minimal residual disease-positive B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [J Clin Oncol]

Prognostic Significance of ASXL1 Mutations in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
The purpose of this research is to study the incidence and prognostic impact of mutations in additional sex comb-like 1 (ASXL1) in a large cohort of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. [J Clin Oncol]

Exome Sequencing Reveals Germline NPAT Mutation as a Candidate Risk Factor for Hodgkin Lymphoma
Investigators applied exome sequencing together with genome-wide linkage analysis to a family of four cousins with nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and identified a truncating germline mutation in nuclear protein, ataxia-telangiectasia locus (NPAT) gene which segregated in the family. [Blood]

Fludarabine as a Risk Factor for Poor Stem Cell Harvest, Treatment-Related MDS and AML in Follicular Lymphoma Patients After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Investigators hypothesized that the risk that fludarabine imparts to stem cell mobilization and myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia (t-MDS/AML) would be affected by dose or timing. [Bone Marrow Transplant]

T.J. Martell Foundation Appoints New CEO
Tony Martell announced that Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the T.J. Martell Foundation Southern Region, was named Chief Executive Officer. [T.J. Martell Foundation Press Release]

OXiGENE Announces Initiation of Phase I Trial of OXi4503 in Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
OXiGENE, Inc. announced that investigators at the University of Florida have initiated an investigator sponsored Phase I study of OXi4503 for the treatment of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. [OXiGENE, Inc. Press Release]

Talon Therapeutics to Commence a Phase III Study of Marqibo® in Adult Patients with Newly Diagnosed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Talon Therapeutics, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase III Study of Marqibo (vincristine sulfate liposomes injection) in elderly patients with newly diagnosed aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma to be conducted by the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Study Group. [Talon Therapeutics, Inc. Press Release]

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 Gordon Research Conferences: Cell Growth & Proliferation – Connecting Cell Cycle Regulation to Cancer Biology
June 26-July 1, 2011
Biddeford, United States

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