Hematopoiesis News Volume 2.36 | Sep 13 2011

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Rho Kinase Regulates the Survival and Transformation of Cells Bearing Oncogenic Forms of KIT, FLT3, and BCR-ABL
Scientists show constitutive activation of Rho kinase in cells bearing oncogenic forms of KIT, FLT3, and BCR-ABL, which is dependent on PI3K and Rho GTPase. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Press Release

Loss of the Wild-Type Allele Contributes to Myeloid Expansion and Disease Aggressiveness in FLT3/ITD Knock-In Mice
To study the roles of the wild-type FLT3 and internal tandem duplication (ITD) alleles in the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms, investigators generated FLT3/ITD homozygous and hemizygous mice. [Blood] Abstract

PML-RARα Enhances Constitutive Autophagic Activity through Inhibiting the Akt/mTOR Pathway
Here scientists demonstrate that the inducible or transfected expression of the acute promyelocytic leukemia-specific PML-RARα fusion protein upregulates constitutive autophagy activation in leukemic and nonleukemic cells, as evaluated by hallmarks for autophagy including transmission electron microscopy. [Autophagy] Abstract

Mir-125b, a Target of CDX2, Regulates Cell Differentiation through the Repression of the Core Binding Factor in Hematopoietic Malignancies
The present study aims to identify the factors that might contribute to the up-regulation of microRNA-125bin (miR-125b) human hematopoietic malignancies and its downstream targets for lineage-specific differentiation. [J Biol Chem] Abstract

Erlotinib Antagonizes Constitutive Activation of SRC Family Kinases and mTOR in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Researchers demonstrate that the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor erlotinib, which has previously been shown to mediate antiproliferative/cytotoxic off-target effects in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia blasts, reduces SRC family kinase overactivation. [Cell Cycle] Abstract

Red Blood Cell Engineering in Stroma and Serum/Plasma-Free Conditions and Long Term Storage
Using an appropriate combination of cost-effective and safe reagents, the present study demonstrated the terminal maturation of hematopoietic stem cells into enucleated red blood cells (RBCs), which were functional comparable to donated human RBCs. [Tissue Eng Part A] Abstract

Differential Adhesion Molecule Expression During Murine Embryonic Stem Cell Commitment to the Hematopoietic and Endothelial Lineages
Since adhesion molecules (AM) influence proliferation and differentiation in developing and adult tissues, scientists hypothesized that specific AM interactions influence embryonic stem cell commitment toward hematopoietic and endothelial lineages. [PLoS One] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Risk Factors Associated with Increased Non-Relapse Mortality and with Poor Overall Survival in Children with Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Researchers performed multivariate analyses using data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research to identify risk factors for non-relapse mortality and survival in 1117 pediatric subjects with leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, transplanted from related donors, unrelated donors or unrelated cord blood between 1995-2004. [Blood] Abstract | Press Release

Low Telomerase Activity in CD4⁺ Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Severe Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
In this study, investigators examined telomere length and telomerase activity of regulatory T cells and conventional CD4⁺ T cells in 61 patients who survived more than 2 years after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [Blood] Abstract

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Concurrent Lymphoid Malignancy
Scientists analyzed the outcomes in 21 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and concurrent lymphoid malignancy when undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. [Leukemia] Abstract

EpiCept Corporation Provides U.S. Regulatory Update for Ceplene® Clinical Development
EpiCept Corporation announced that at a recent meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the Company was provided more definitive guidance regarding the clinical development of Ceplene® (histamine dihydrochloride). [EpiCept Corporation] Press Release

4SC’s Resminostat Meets Primary Efficacy Endpoint in Phase II Trial in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL)
4SC AG announced positive topline data from its Phase II SAPHIRE trial with resminostat, its oral pan HDAC inhibitor, in patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. [4SC AG] Press Release

WSU Researcher Seeks Clues to Leukemia
Identifying which genes are involved in a group of diseases that are precursors to leukemia is the focus of a new research project in the College of Pharmacy at Washington State University (WSU). [Washington State University] Press Release

FDA Announces Changes in Drug Center’s Oncology Office  
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced organizational changes within the office responsible for reviewing all drug and biologic applications for cancer therapies. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s Office of Oncology Drug Products has been reorganized and renamed the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States] Press Release

NHLBI Announces Changes in the Application Receipt Dates for PAR-10-034, Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R01) (NOT-HL-12-100) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

NHLBI Announces Changes in the Application Receipt Dates for PAR-10-033, Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R21) (NOT-HL-12-101) [National Institutes of Health, United States]

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 The Australasian Society of Stem Cell Research 4th Annual Conference 
October 23-25, 2011
Leura, Australia

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