Hematopoiesis News Volume 5.47 | Dec 16 2014

Splicing Factor 3B Subunit 1 (Sf3B1) Haploinsufficient Mice Display Features of Low Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes with Ring Sideroblasts
Investigators used routine blood tests and histopathologic analysis of bone marrow, spleen, and liver to evaluate the hematologic and morphologic characteristics of Sf3b1^+/- mice in the context of myelodysplastic syndromes by comparing the long term follow-up of Sf3b1^+/- and Sf3b1^+/-. [J Hematol Oncol] Full Article

Presence of CD34⁺CD38^–CD58^– Leukemia-Propagating Cells at Diagnosis Identifies Patients at High Risk of Relapse with Ph Chromosome-Positive ALL after Allo-Hematopoietic SCT
The prognostic significance of leukemia-propagating cells in Ph chromosome-positive ALL subjects after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT was investigated. [Bone Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Modeling Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Immunodeficient Mice Reveals Expansion of Aberrant Mast Cells and Accumulation of Pre-B Cells
To generate a humanized chronic myeloid leukemia model, researchers retrovirally expressed BCR-ABL1 in cord blood CD34⁺ cells and transplanted these into non-obese diabetic/severe-combined immunodeficient interleukin-2-receptor γ-deficient mice. [Blood Cancer J] Full Article

MGMT Enrichment and Second Gene Co-Expression in Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Using Separate or Dual-Gene Lentiviral Vectors
To evaluate different co-expression strategies in the context of O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)-mediated hematopoietic stem cell enrichment, scientists compared selection and expression efficacies in cells cotransduced with separate single-gene MGMT and GFP lentivectors to those obtained with dual-gene vectors employing either encephalomyocarditis virus internal ribosome entry site or foot and mouth disease virus 2A elements for co-expression strategies. [Virus Res] Full Article

Aminolevulinate Synthase 2 Mediates Erythrocyte Differentiation by Regulating Larval Globin Expression during Xenopus Primary Hematopoiesis
Researchers investigated the function of the Xenopus alas2 gene in primitive amphibian erythrocytes and found that it is first expressed in primitive erythroid cells before hemoglobin alpha 3 subunit during primary hematopoiesis and in the posterior ventral blood islands at the tailbud stage. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phase I/II Study Exploring ImMucin, a Pan-Major Histocompatibility Complex, Anti-MUC1 Signal Peptide Vaccine, in Multiple Myeloma Patients
Investigators assessed the safety, immunity and clinical response to six or 12 bi-weekly intradermal ImMucin vaccines, co-administered with human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to 15 MUC1-positive multiple myeloma patients, with residual or biochemically progressive disease following autologous stem cell transplantation. [Br J Haematol] Abstract | Press Release

Risk Factors for Readmission following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Impact on Overall Survival
Investigators aimed to identify the incidence and associated risk factors for readmissions in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients and to evaluate the effect of readmissions on overall survival. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant] Abstract

Decision Analysis for Donor Selection in Stem Cell Transplantation-HLA-8/8 Allele-Matched Unrelated Donor vs HLA-1 AG Mismatched Related Donor
Risk of relapse during the unrelated donor coordination period biases comparisons between allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an HLA 8 of 8 allele-matched unrelated donor and that from a related donor with an HLA-1 antigen mismatch in the graft-versus-host direction. To reduce this bias, researchers performed a decision analysis focusing on acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission. [Blood Cancer J] Full Article

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Immunotherapy Shows Clinical Benefit in Relapsed Transplant Recipients
A multicenter Phase I trial of the immune checkpoint blocker ipilimumab found clinical benefit in nearly half of blood cancer patients who had relapsed following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. [Press release from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discussing research presented at the 56^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Francisco] Press Release

Experimental Gene Therapy Successful in Certain Lymphomas and Leukemia
Study results of CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor therapy using the Sleeping Beauty non-viral transduction system to modify T cells has demonstrated further promise in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. [Press release from MD Anderson Cancer Center discussing research presented at the 56^th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), San Francisco] Press Release

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Cyclacel Announces Enrollment of 486 Patients, DSMB Recommendations and that the Seamless Phase III Trial of Sapacitabine in AML Will Continue to Final Analysis
Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced enrollment of 486 patients, continuation to final analysis and recommendations of the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) of the company’s Phase III SEAMLESS study of oral sapacitabine capsules in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). [Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] 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)

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Research Associate – Hematopoietic and Leukemic Stem Cells (Shanghai Jiao-Tong University)

Postdoctoral Research Positions – Pathways Governing Lineage Commitment from Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Karolinska Institute)

Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) Laboratory Technician (California Cryobank)

Clinical Laboratory Scientist – Umbilical Cord Blood Processing (California Cryobank)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation (Van Andel Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Post-Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Stem Cell Biology Gene Expression and Regulation (The University of Texas Medical School At Houston)

Stem Cell Biology Program Director (Blood Research Institute of BloodCenter of Wisconsin)

Principal Scientist – Hematopoietic Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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