Why leukemia progresses to blast crisis

[Guest guest]

Researchers have discovered a key reason why a form of leukemia progresses from

its more-treatable chronic phase to a life-threatening phase called blast

crisis.

The study, led by cancer researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive

Cancer Center-Arthur G. Cancer Hospital and J. Solove Research

Institute (OSUCCC-), indicates that chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

progresses when immature white blood cells lose a molecule called miR-328.

Loss of the molecule traps the cells in a rapidly growing, immature state. The

cells soon fill the bone marrow and spill into the bloodstream, a tell-tale sign

that the disease has advanced to the blast crisis stage.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181407.php

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Anti Cancer Agent:

Article Date: 23 Mar 2010 - 4:00 PDT " The TRAIL ligand is a promising

anticancer agent that preferentially kills tumor cells without apparent damage

to healthy cells. Many cancers exhibit resistance to TRAIL, however, thus

limiting its therapeutic potential. According to a study in the March 22 issue

of the Journal of Cell Biology, small molecules known to block Mcl-1 (induced

myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein) might represent a suitable means

to overcome TRAIL resistance.

" Researchers know that TRAIL-induced cell death entirely depends on the presence

of Bax, which is a member of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins and is

often lost in tumor cells for various reasons. Despite the expression of Bak,

another protein that promotes dell death, Bax-deficient cells are resistant to

TRAIL-induced death. "

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/183165.php

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FYI,

Lottie Duthu