Hematopoiesis News Volume 2.21 | May 31 2011

Researcher Developing Blood Substitute
Vibhudutta Awasthi, Ph.D. is developing a nano-sized carrier of hemoglobin that may be safer than other attempted blood substitutes. [The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Press Release]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Hierarchical Organization and Early Hematopoietic Specification of the Developing HSC Lineage in the AGM Region
In this study, investigators developed a new co-aggregation culture system, which supports maturation of a novel population of CD45-negative (VE-cad⁺CD45⁻CD41⁺⁾ pre-hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into definitive HSCs. [J Exp Med]

Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1) and Hematopoietic Cell Homing in an Adult Zebrafish Model of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant
Researchers sought to characterize sdf-1 expression and function in the adult zebrafish in the context of hematopoietic cell transplantation. [Blood]

Regulation of TMPRSS6 by BMP6 and Iron in Human Cells and Mice
In this study, scientists investigated whether bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6) and iron also regulate TMPRSS6 expression. [Blood]

Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Vav1 Regulates Perivascular Homing and Bone Marrow Retention of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
Researchers investigated the role of the hematopoietic-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav1 in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells localization and engraftment. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Importance of c-kit Mutation Detection Method Sensitivity in Prognostic Analyses of t(8;21)(q22;q22) Acute Myeloid Leukemia
In this study, investigators developed a highly sensitive mutation detection method known as mutation-biased PCR and investigated the relationship between c-kit mutations and prognosis. [Leukemia]

Differentiation of an Embryonic Stem Cell to Hemogenic Endothelium by Defined Factors: Essential Role of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
Scientists have developed a defined, serum-free and low cell-density differentiation program to generate endothelial and hematopoietic cells within 6 days from murine embryonic stem cells. [Development]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phase I Study of Epigenetic Priming with Decitabine Prior to Standard Induction Chemotherapy for Patients with AML
Researchers conducted an open label Phase I study exploring the feasibility, safety and biologic activity of epigenetic priming with decitabine prior to standard induction chemotherapy in patients with less-than-favorable risk AML. [Blood]

High Success of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Regardless of Donor Source in Children with Very High-Risk Leukemia
Investigators evaluated 190 children with very-high-risk leukemia, who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in two sequential treatment eras, to determine whether those treated with contemporary protocols had a high risk of relapse or toxic death, and whether non-HLA-identical transplantations yielded poor outcomes. [Blood]

Missense Mutations in PML-RARA Critical for the Lack of Responsiveness to Arsenic Trioxide Treatment
Scientists report that two out of 15 patients with refractory/relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃ ) were clinically As₂O₃ resistant. [Blood]

Athersys Announces Positive Interim Results From Ongoing Phase I Study of MultiStem® for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Support and Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Athersys, Inc. announced positive interim results from an ongoing Phase I clinical trial of MultiStem® administered to individuals undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants for the treatment of leukemia and related conditions. [Athersys, Inc. Press Release]

Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission Funds 36 New Projects in FY 2011
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission has completed its review of the 180 applications received in response to its three FY 2011 Requests for Applications. [Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Press Release]

Clavis Pharma Receives Government Grant to Develop hENT1 Biomarker Assay for Targeted Therapy of AML Patients
Clavis Pharma ASA announced that it has been awarded a grant from The Research Council of Norway of up to NOK $14 million (USD $2.5 million) for the development of a flow cytometry method for the detection and quantification of human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter (hENT1) in patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). [Clavis Pharma ASA Press Release]

NIH and Non-Profits Sign Research and Development Agreement
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced an agreement with two non-profit organizations to accelerate the development of potential clinical therapies for rare blood cancers. [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NICE Approves Rituximab as Maintenance Therapy for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published a draft guidance recommending rituximab as a maintenance therapy for certain patients with follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. [National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, United Kingdom]

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 World Orphan Drug Congress Asia 2011
September 14-16, 2011
Seoul, Korea

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