Follow Up on The Mayo Clinic and CML Treatment

[Guest guest]

Hi All-

Did some follow up to learn more about Mayo's involvement with CML. Mayo is

hosting a major national clinical conference in Phoenix this September, " Acute

and Chronic Leukemias 2010 " and their clinical staff members are very supportive

locally. They're mainly focused on complex cases.

http://www.mayo.edu/pmts/mc8300-mc8399/mc8300-30.pdf

They have a comprehensive program that spans their three locations in Arizona,

Florida and Minnesota. Mayo treats CML patients in both clinical trials and

direct patient care. Their data can be confusing because they tend to not use

the term " CML " in describing their services, as you will see below.

Pat in Phoenix

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Bios and credentials of Mayo physicians:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/doctors-departments/

Mayo Clinic Hematology Program

Hematologic malignancies are cancers of the blood that manifest themselves in

several ways. The Hematology Program of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has a strong

tradition of advanced research focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment

of hematologic diseases.

Members of the program range from nationally- and internationally-recognized

investigators to young researchers who demonstrate significant productivity and

promise. The Program has multiple areas of expertise including, hematology,

genomics and basic sciences, pathology and cytogenetics, immunology and

biochemistry.

Four research groups comprise the Hematologic Malignancies Program:

* Myeloma

* Lymphoma

* Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

* Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders

Researchers in these groups are exploring all facets of these diseases,

including the causes and genetics behind cancers of the blood, how the cancer

progresses, and new treatments such as immune targeting and gene therapy.

Investigators work within as well as across the four groups, because studies are

often complementary - a better understanding of one disease helps develop better

treatment for another. In the Mayo tradition of collaborative work, clinical

investigators also meet with basic scientists in other disease-oriented groups

for discussion and sharing of knowledge.

The disease oriented groups (DOGs) are designed such that each member lends

their particular expertise. Some members provide basic research skills, others

provide clinical investigative skills and still others have more experience in

direct clinical care. The DOG structure provides significant advantages to the

Program's research by spanning all three Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona,

Florida and Minnesota; taking full advantage of the depth of knowledge across

the institution. The Program's six DOGs are:

* Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

* Dysproteinemia (myeloma and amyloid)

* Lymphoma

* Myeloid and Leukemia/Myelodysplastic Syndromes

* Myeloproliferative Disorders

* Stem Cell Transplant

In addition to working within the Program's groups, researchers also work with

other Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Programs on specific projects. For example,

researchers in Hematologic Malignancies are collaborating with Gene and Virus

Therapy Program members on research involving the measles virus in treatment of

myeloma. These interactions enhance the abilities of both programs to meet their

goals and remain on the cutting edge of cancer research.

Our Goals

The Hematologic Malignancies Program has three major scientific goals, to:

* Perform epidemiology studies and understand progression events for

hematologic malignancies

* Characterize the molecular and cell biology nature of hematologic

malignancies

* Develop new therapies for hematologic malignancies