Gleevec resistance, stem cells, et al

[Guest guest]

August 15, 2010........

Scientists in Japan may have developed a way to accurately predict those

patients who will resist treatment with imatinib, which is the standard of care

for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Results are published in Clinical Cancer

Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

http://www.virtualcancercentre.com/news/lab-test-could-identify-imatinib-resista\

nce/15319

_________________________

Stem cell detectives' uncover potential cancer cause/bone marrow diseases

A major finding of the new study was the discovery of a novel DNA mutation in

the c-Myb gene. This gene has been previously linked to a number of different

cancer types. We've shown that blood stem cells with this genetic mutation

behave the same way as those present in human bone marrow diseases, including

diseases that can evolve into leukaemia, " said Dr Papathanasiou, who is also

affiliated with the Australian Phenomics Facility at ANU. " By understanding more

about the genetic blueprint of these kinds of disorders, we can start to develop

new ways of targeting diseases, " Dr Perkins said.

" Currently, there is no treatment for this group of blood diseases, but the

discovery of this mutation provides new avenues for investigation. " As a result

of the screening project, the researchers have also identified five other

abnormal blood stem cell profiles, adding to understanding of the genetic

diversity of blood cells. The project has also led to a better understanding of

how blood cells develop and how this process becomes corrupted. " Given that the

same genes that operate in stem cells also function in cancer cells – albeit

with genetic mutation – this research also has potential implications for

regenerative medicine, by understanding how to stimulate the growth of new blood

cells, " Dr Papathanasiou said.

http://www.virtualcancercentre.com/news/stem-cell-detectives-uncover-potential-c\

ancer-cause/15245

Article Date: 25/7/2010 (The findings are published in the American Society of

Hematology journal, Blood.)

__________________________

Reinventing Bone Marrow Transplantation (May 1, 1999)

Until recently, marrow transplantation was considered a supportive-care modality

for restoring hematopoiesis. It has become clear, however, that high-dose

therapy does not eradicate the malignancy in many patients, and that the

therapeutic benefit of allogeneic marrow transplantation relates largely to an

associated immune-mediated graft-vs-malignancy effect.Extensive clinical and

experimental data support the presence of a graft-vs-malignancy effect. Most of

the data relates to the effects of allogeneic transplantation in leukemia, or

graft-vs-leukemia (GVL) effects. These include a reduced risk of relapse in

transplant recipients with acute and chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD and a

higher relapse risk after syngeneic marrow transplantation.[6-8] T-cell–depleted

allotransplants are also associated with an increased risk of relapse,

particularly in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The most

direct evidence of GVL is the finding that, in many patients who relapse after

allogeneic transplantation, remission can be reinduced simply by infusing

additional donor lymphocytes.

http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/display/article/10165/75583

_________________________

FYI,

Lottie Duthu