Newly Diagnosed Ph+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients May Benefit from Sprycel/Chemotherapy Combination 07/27/2010
The initial report of a Phase II study evaluating Sprycel® (dasatinib) combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) indicates that 94% of patients achieve a complete remission. These findings were recently published in the journal Blood.[1] Adult ALL is a malignant disease or ...

Cell Phone Towers and Childhood Cancer Risk 06/30/2010
Recent findings indicate that children who are exposed to radiofrequency fields from cell phone towers before birth do not have an increased risk of early childhood cancer. This study was published in the British Medical Journal. The health effects—notably, cancer risk—of the radiofrequency fields created by cell phones and cell phone ...

Mylotarg Withdrawn from Market in United States 06/22/2010
Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin), a drug used for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), will be withdrawn from the U.S. market following a recent clinical trial that raised new concerns about safety and failed to demonstrate clinical benefit. Mylotarg was originally approved in 2000 under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ...

Tasigna Approved for Initial Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 06/21/2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the approval of Tasigna® (nilotinib) to include the initial treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase. Each year in the United States, approximately 5,000 people are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Most cases of CML are characterized ...

Sprycel May Be More Effective than Gleevec for Initial Treatment of CML 06/07/2010
In the initial treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Sprycel® (dasatinib) produces higher response rates than Gleevec® (imatinib). These results were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Each year in the United States, approximately 5000 people are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Most ...

Study Evaluates Anthracycline-related Heart Problems in Childhood Cancer Survivors 05/27/2010
Children with particular variants of drug-metabolizing genes may be more likely than other children to develop heart problems after low doses of anthracycline chemotherapy. The results of this study will be presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Anthracyclines are commonly used chemotherapy drugs that ...

Survivors of Some Childhood Cancers May Face Cognitive Impairment 05/17/2010
Survivors of non-central nervous system (CNS) childhood cancers reported a statistically and clinically significantly higher rate of neurocognitive impairment than their cancer-free siblings, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1 The survival rate for childhood cancer is high, with 80% of ...

Drinking During Pregnancy May Increase Leukemia Risk in Child 05/13/2010
According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy may increase the risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the offspring. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. There are many different types of leukemia, depending ...

Study Evaluates Long-term Efficacy of Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant Versus Bone Marrow Transplant 04/29/2010
For leukemia patients who undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation, 10-year results indicate that bone-marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) produce similar rates of overall and leukemia-free survival.  These results were recently published in the journal The Lancet Oncology.[1] Following the delivery ...

Mylotarg Effective for Older Intermediate-risk AML Patients 04/07/2010
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have reported that single-agent Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) resulted in a complete remission (CR) rate of 30% in patients 70 years or older with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The details of this study were recently ...

Fludara plus Rituxan Extends Survival in CLL 04/06/2010
Patients with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia experienced prolonged survival when treated with Fludara® (fludarabine) plus Rituxan® (rituximab) (delivered either concurrently or sequentially), according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.1 Chronic ...

Arzerra, Fludara, and Cytoxan Promising for Previously Untreated CLL 02/01/2010
The combination of Arzerra™ (ofatumumab), Fludara® (fludarabine), and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) shows promising effectiveness in the initial treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form ...

Tasigna May Be More Effective than Gleevec for Initial Treatment of CML 01/28/2010
In the initial treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Tasigna® (nilotinib) appears to produce higher response rates than Gleevec® (imatinib) 400 mg/day. These results were presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). CML is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. It ...

Treanda® and Rituxan® Effective Initial Therapy for CLL 01/05/2010
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial, the combination of Treanda® (bendamustine) and Rituxan® (rituximab) is effective and safe for the initial treatment of patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Chronic lymphocytic ...

Arzerra™ Approved for Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 10/28/2009
The targeted therapy Arzerra™ (ofatumumab) has been granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that is refractory to Fludara® (fludarabine) and Campath® (alemtuzumab). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. The American Cancer Society ...

Eliminating Preventive Radiation May Benefit Children with ALL 06/26/2009
Eliminating Preventive Radiation May Benefit Children with ALL Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are treated with effective, risk-adjusted chemotherapy regimens have good outcomes and may safely be able to avoid preventive radiation therapy to the brain. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia ...

Formaldehyde Exposure May Increase Risk of Blood and Lymphatic Cancers 06/23/2009
Formaldehyde Exposure May Increase Risk of Blood and Lymphatic Cancers Industrial workers who are exposed to formaldehyde may be at an increased risk of dying from blood and lymphatic cancers, particularly myeloid leukemia but also Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma, according to the results of a study published in the Journal ...

Compressed Dose-dense Induction with S-HAM Effective and Less Toxic for AML Patients 05/05/2009
The dose-dense induction regimen S-HAM (sequential high-dose cytarabine [Cytosar®] and mitoxantrone [Novantrone®] followed by Neulasta® [pegfilgrastim]) delivered in two induction cycles over 11-12 days instead of 25-29 days is highly effective in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and results in a shorter period of low ...

Leukemia Overview 03/19/2009
Overview Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. There are many different types of leukemia, depending upon which specific blood cells are affected. Each leukemia has different disease characteristics and therefore different treatment options. Several clinical diagnostic tests are utilized in order to determine the type and extent of leukemia. ...

Sequential Treatment with Fludara®, Cytoxan®, and Rituxan® Produces High-quality Responses in CLL 02/24/2009
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with Fludara® (fludarabine), followed by consolidation with Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), and finally consolidation with Rituxan® (rituximab) (F→C→R) achieved high-quality responses that improved with each phase of therapy, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

FCR-Lite Is Safe and Effective in Previously Untreated CLL 02/19/2009
FCR-Lite, a drug regimen that consists of Fludara® (fludarabine), Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide), and Rituxan® (rituximab), is highly effective in previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and produces significantly less grade 3-4 neutropenia than FCR, which uses higher doses of Fludara and Cytoxan. The results of this study were ...

Developments in the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Update from ASH 2008 02/04/2009
Several studies presented at the 2008 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting focused on improving the outcome of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in children and adults, with a particular emphasis on elderly patients.Acute Myeloid Leukemia in ChildrenEffects of Mylotarg®Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) is a monoclonal antibody linked to a toxin called ...

The American Society of Clinical Oncology 2008: Advances in Treatment of Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/02/2009
At the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), there were more than 100 abstracts devoted to the treatment of lymphoma. There is increasing evidence that survival of patients with lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is steadily increasing. New drugs are being developed at a ...

The American Society of Clinical Oncology 2008: Highlights of Treatment of Hematological Malignancies 01/30/2009
The 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held in Chicago, Illinois, again revealed advances in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Patients with chronic or acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloproliferative disorders continue to be presented with novel, effective options for the treatment of their ...

Developments in the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Update from ASH 2008 01/28/2009
Several studies presented at the 2008 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting focused on improving the outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adults.Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in ChildrenDexamethasone or Prednisone?Remission induction therapy for standard-risk children with ALL currently consists of administering three drugs: vincristine, prednisone, or dexamethasone, ...

Early Dose Intensity of Gleevec® May Optimize Response for Chronic Phase CML 01/20/2009
Patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) who receive high doses (600 mg) of Gleevec® (imatinib) in the first year of treatment experience improved molecular response rates, according to the results of a study published in the journal Blood.[1]Chronic myeloid ...

Revlimid® Shows Promise as First-line Therapy of CLL 01/13/2009
According to the results of two studies presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), Revlimid® (lenalidomide) appears to be effective for the initial treatment of patients with symptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).CLL is the most common adult leukemia with over 15,000 new cases ...

Older Age Does Not Affect Survival in Patients with AML or MDS Who Undergo Mini-transplants 12/30/2008
Age should not be a barrier for non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), according to the results of a study presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on December 7, 2008 in San Francisco, ...

Arzerra™ Effective For CLL 12/29/2008
Arzerra™ (ofatumumab), a human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is effective for the treatment of patients with refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to the results of a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology on December 8, 2008 in San Francisco, California.

Dexamethasone Superior to Prednisone for Induction Therapy in Childhood ALL 12/15/2008
Dexamethasone in the induction phase of combination chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) resulted in one-third fewer relapses than prednisone, according to the results of a study presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on December 7, 2008 in San Francisco, California.

Treanda® and Rituxan® Effective for Relapsed CLL 12/11/2008
In a Phase II clinical trial, the combination of Treanda® (bendamustine) and Rituxan® (rituximab) produced promising results among patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These results were presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.CLL is a disease characterized by high numbers of circulating abnormal lymphocytes ...

Rituxan® Delays Progression of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 12/11/2008
According to the results of two Phase III clinical trials, the addition of Rituxan® (rituximab) to chemotherapy improves progression-free survival among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These results were presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.CLL is a disease characterized by high numbers ...

Prophylactic Use of Specific Antibiotics Reduce the Risk of Some Infections in AML 07/28/2008
Specific antibiotics used during remission (no evidence of disease) following induction therapy reduce the risk of some types of infection and associated complications among pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia. These results were published in an early on-line version in the journal Cancer.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of ...

LYN Kinase Affects Sensitivity to Gleevec® in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 07/01/2008
A protein structure known as the LYN kinase appears to play an important role in the effectiveness of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cancer cells. These results were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.Chronic myeloid leukemia is a cancer that originates in ...

Sprycel® Effective for Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 06/27/2008
The targeted agent Sprycel® (dasatinib) is an effective treatment for patients newly diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.CML is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. It affects approximately 4,600 people ...

Flavopiridol Has Significant Activity in Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 06/26/2008
Flavopiridol provides pronounced anticancer activity among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has stopped responding to prior therapies. These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago May 30-June 2.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of ...

Tasigna® Effective for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 06/25/2008
The targeted agent Tasigna® (nilotinib) appears to be an effective treatment for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). These results were recently presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.CML is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. It ...

Treanda® Included in NCCN Guidelines for CLL and NHL 05/05/2008
The chemotherapy agent Treanda® (bendamustine) has been added to the treatment guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) as an accepted treatment option for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).Leukemias and lymphomas are both cancers that originate in the cells of the immune system. There are ...

Genetic Differences Associated with Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 05/01/2008
It appears that different genetic mutations (alterations) affect outcomes among patients with acute myeloid leukemia. These results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow (spongy portion found in the middle of bones). It is ...

FDA Approves Treanda® for Initial Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 04/25/2008
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the drug Treanda® (bendamustine) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).[1] The approval is based on data indicating that, for patients with CLL, Treanda improved overall response and complete response ...

Cyclophosphamide May Increase Cancer Risk Among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis 03/10/2008
A large study conducted in Canada reveals that patients who are treated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the drug cyclophosphamide may have an increased risk for developing hematological cancers such as lymphoma.Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that attacks the lining of the joints, causing pain and damaging the ...

HemeScan™ Evaluates Prognosis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/11/2008
A genetic test developed by CombiMatrix will soon be available to determine prognosis for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The test, known as HemeScan™, has proven useful in the management of hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of adult leukemia. The American ...

Nexavar® May Be More Effective in AML with Specific Mutations 01/30/2008
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the agent Nexavar® (sorafenib) appears to be effective in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with specific mutations referred to as FLT3-ITD mutations.Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow (spongy portion ...

Advances in the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 01/21/2008
IntroductionInitial Treatment of Newly Diagnosed PatientsAre Higher Doses of Imatinib More Effective?Imatinib in Elderly PatientsSupportive Care in Patients Receiving Tyrosine Kinase ...

Supportive Care and Hematologic Malignancies 01/21/2008
IntroductionAt the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) the most interesting supportive care studies involved second generation thrombopoetin-like agents that should ultimately improve the treatment of thrombocytopenia.ThrombocytopeniaThrombocytopenia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignancy. Thrombopoetin (TPO) or ...

Fludara® Not Superior to Chlorambucil for Elderly with CLL 12/18/2007
According to results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the chemotherapy agent Fludara® (fludarabine) does not appear superior to chlorambucil in elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. The American Cancer Society estimates ...

Genasense® Improves Long-term Survival in Recurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 12/12/2007
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the addition of the anti-sense agent Genasense® (oblimersen) to chemotherapy improves long-term survival over chemotherapy alone in the treatment of recurrent or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving ...

Campath® Possibly Superior to Chlorambucil for Initial Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 12/06/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the targeted agent Campath® (alemtuzumab) provides improved outcomes compared with the chemotherapy agent chlorambucil when used as initial therapy for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. ...

Tasigna® Approved for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 11/01/2007
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the targeted agent Tasigna® (nilotinib) for the treatment of chronic and accelerated-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for patients who are not able to tolerate or who have stopped responding to Gleevec® (imatinib).CML is a cancer that originates in the ...

Factors Identified That Affect Outcomes of Donor Lymphocyte Infusion in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 10/16/2007
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the following factors are associated with significantly improved survival for patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who undergo donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI): a reduced tumor burden (low levels of cancer cells) at the time of a ...

Updates in the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): A Report from ASCO 2007 10/12/2007
IntroductionImatinib (Gleevec®) is the standard initial treatment of newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib produces high rates of complete cytogenetic responses (70% to 85%) and of major molecular responses (20% to 40%) and has improved progression-free and overall survival.[1],

Fludara® plus Cytoxan® New Standard of Care for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 07/20/2007
According to an article recently published in The Lancet, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Fludara® (fludarabine) plus Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) significantly improves progression-free survival compared to Fludara alone without compromising quality of life in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult ...

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Effective for Younger Patients with Poor-prognosis AML 07/03/2007
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood, patients with AML who are at a high risk of cancer progression following standard therapy may benefit from an unrelated allogeneic stem cell transplant.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth ...

Sprycel® Effective as Initial Therapy in CML 06/13/2007
According to results recently presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Sprycel® (dasatinib) is an effective treatment option when used as initial therapy among patients with Ph-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. ...

Atovaquone Effectively Prevents Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia in Children 05/04/2007
According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer, atovaquone (Mepron®, Malarone®) offers effective protection against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in children with leukemia.Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is a common infection in immunosuppressed patients, including children with leukemia. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim®, Septra®) is the usual drug of choice for ...

Risk of Second Cancers Remains Long After Treatment for Childhood ALL 03/28/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the risk of developing a second cancer increases over a 30-year period following treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Leukemia is a cancer that originates in immune cells. There are several different types of leukemia; ...

Addition of Genasense® to Chemotherapy Improves Responses in CLL 02/16/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of Genasense® (oblimersen sodium or Bcl2-antisense) to Fludara® (fludarabine) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) improves anticancer responses and duration of responses compared to chemotherapy only among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer ...

Patients with Hairy Cell Leukemia Have an Increased Risk of Second Cancers 02/07/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, patients with hairy cell leukemia are at an increased risk of developing a second cancer later in their lives.Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare type of leukemia, or cancer of the immune cells. Hairy ...

Possible Link Between Magnetic Fields and Leukemia in Children with Down Syndrome 01/22/2007
According to the results of a study conducted in Mexico City, children with Down syndrome who have high household exposure to magnetic fields (energy produced by power lines and electrical devices) may have an increased risk of developing acute leukemia. These results were published in the journal Epidemiology.Acute lymphocytic ...

Sprycel® Superior to High-dose Gleevec® for Gleevec-resistant CML 01/09/2007
According to results presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, treatment with Sprycel® (dasatinib) provides superior outcomes compared to escalated doses of Gleevec® (imatinib) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have stopped responding to previous treatment with standard doses of Gleevec.Chronic myelogenous ...

Intravenous Oncaspar® Safe and Effective in Children with ALL 01/09/2007
Researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have reported that Oncaspar® (pegaspargase) can be safely given intravenously (IV) to children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The details of this study were reported at the December 2006 meeting of the American Society of Hematology.Leukemia is a cancer that originates in immune ...

Nilotinib Effective in Newly Diagnosed Patients with CML 01/09/2007
Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported the first results of treating newly diagnosed patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) with nilotinib (AMN107). The details of this study were presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society of Hematology in December in Orlando, Florida.Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) ...

Mylotarg® and Vidaza® Effective for Elderly Patients with AML or MDS 01/05/2007
Researchers from Loyola University have reported that the combination of Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) and Vidaza® (azacitidine) produces a high rate of response in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The details of this study were presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society ...

Troxacitabine Effective for AML that has Stopped Responding to Therapy 01/03/2007
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, troxacitabine, an investigative chemotherapy agent, appears effective in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia that has stopped responding to standard therapy.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood that is characterized by ...

Further Evidence that Nilotinib is Active in Patients with CML that has Stopped Responding to Gleevec® 12/12/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the targeted agent nilotinib (AMN107) is effective and well tolerated in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who do not respond to or cannot tolerate Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also ...

Rituxan® and Campath® Show Significant Activity in Newly Diagnosed CLL with Poor Prognosis 12/11/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium, the treatment combination of Rituxan® (rituximab) and Campath® (alemtuzumab) demonstrate significant anticancer activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who have a poor prognosis.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. The American Cancer ...

Gleevec® Confirmed as Initial Therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 12/08/2006
According to an article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) should be the preferred initial therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia.Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. In CML large numbers ...

Campath® Safe and Active in Patients with CLL After Extensive Prior Therapy 11/13/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, further data confirm the anticancer activity and safety of Campath® (alemtuzumab) in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) among patients who have received prior therapies.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. The American ...

Revlimid® Effective for Recurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 11/09/2006
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Revlimid® (lenalidomide) produces encouraging anticancer activity in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has progressed following prior therapies or has stopped responding to standard therapies.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult ...

Gleevec® Receives Expanded Approval 10/31/2006
Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for five new uses. This approval will allow Gleevec to be used to treat a broader range of disorders. Previously, Gleevec was approved for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) as well as ...

Gene Expression Linked with Prognosis in Adults with T-cell Acute Lymbloblastic Leukemia 10/19/2006
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, high expression of a gene known as ERG is linked with worse survival in adult patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone marrow produces ...

6-mercaptopurine Remains Standard Agent for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 10/16/2006
According to an article published in The Lancet, 6-mercaptopurine remains the standard thiopurine in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a malignant disease, is a cancer of the blood characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of abnormal, immature white blood cells known as lymphoblasts. Acute ...

Aspartame Not Linked to Brain or Blood Cancer 09/29/2006
According to an article recently published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, high intake of aspartame (NutraSweet®) does not appear to increase the risks of cancers originating in the brain or blood. Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener that is often found in diet soft drinks, ice tea, coffees, or fruit ...

Gleevec® Approved for Pediatric CML 09/29/2006
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) for the treatment of children with newly diagnosed chronic myelogenous leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. In CML large numbers of young immune cells ...

Vidaza® May Provide Alternative Treatment for Elderly Patients with AML 09/25/2006
According to an early online publication in the journal Cancer, the agent Vidaza® (azacitadine) may provide an effective treatment alternative for elderly patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia who cannot tolerate standard induction therapy. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood that is characterized ...

International Panel Makes Recommendations for Treatment of CML with Gleevec® 09/18/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood , an international panel has made recommendations concerning treatment for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. In CML ...

Gleevec® Improves Survival with CML 08/30/2006
Among patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib) appears to result in better survival than treatment with interferon-alfa and cytarabine. These results were published in the journal Blood. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the immune cells. ...

Avoidance of Cranial Radiation Therapy Linked with Good Neurocognitive Outcomes in Children with ALL 08/29/2006
Among children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treatment of the central nervous system with chemotherapy rather than cranial radiation therapy appears to result in higher measures of intelligence, academic achievement, and memory. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a malignant disease or ...

Identified Mutations Associated with Outcomes in AML 08/29/2006
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, as well as at the plenary session at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, specific mutations referred to as KIT mutations are associated with significantly worse outcomes for patients with a subtype of ...

Vidaza® Effective for High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes 08/28/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the agent Vidaza® (azacitidine) is effective for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) that has occurred from MDS. Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of blood (hematologic) disorders that are diagnosed in 10,000 to ...

Alternating Chemotherapy and Gleevec® Effective for Elderly Patients with Philadelphia-positive ALL 08/28/2006
According to a study published in the journal Leukemia, treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib) and methylprednisolone alternated with chemotherapy improves outcomes among elderly patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a malignant disease or cancer of the blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled growth of abnormal, ...

Medication Errors Frequent in Pediatric Patients with ALL Receiving Outpatient Therapy 08/18/2006
According to an early online publication reported in the journal Cancer, there is a high rate of errors in prescribing medication regimens for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who undergo outpatient treatment. Leukemia is a cancer that originates in immune cells. There are several different types of leukemia; ...

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Effective for CML that Doesn't Respond to Gleevec® 08/10/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood, an allogeneic stem cell transplant is an effective treatment approach among patients with CML or ALL that does not respond to Gleevec® (imatinib). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the immune ...

Low-dose Amphotericin B Prevents Fungal Infection in Patients with Hematologic Cancers 08/08/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, low doses of amphotercin B used as a preventive measure significantly reduce the risk of fungal infections among patients with hematologic (blood) cancer who have low levels of immune cells for more than 10 days following treatment with ...

High-dose Cytosine Arabinoside May Improve Survival in Young Patients with AML 08/07/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, high doses of cytosine arabinoside (Cytosar-U®) during initial treatment of acute myeloid leukemia among patients who are 60 years old or younger appears to improve outcomes, including survival, compared to lower doses of the agent. However, further study is ...

Possible Link Between Residential Petrochemical Exposure and Leukemia 08/07/2006
Results from a study conducted in southern Taiwan suggest a possible link between living in an area with high exposure to airborne petrochemicals (derivatives of petroleum or natural gas) and risk of developing leukemia. These results were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Leukemia is a cancer of the ...

Early Reduced-intensity Stem Cell Transplantation Promising for Acute Myeloid Leukemia 07/26/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood, a novel regimen used as part of a reduced-intensity, or “mini”, stem cell transplant produces impressive survival rates among older adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has stopped responding to prior therapy. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a ...

Oncaspar® Approved for Initial Treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 07/25/2006
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Oncaspar® (pegaspargase) as treatment for children and adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Oncaspar is to be used as part of a multiple drug chemotherapy regimen for patients with this disease. Leukemia is a cancer that originates in immune ...

Patients on Gleevec® May Benefit from Regular Heart Monitoring 07/24/2006
According to an article recently published in Nature Medicine, patients who are undergoing treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) should receive heart monitoring while on the drug as it is associated with a small risk of heart failure. Gleevec is a targeted agent that blocks a mutated biologic pathway associated with ...

Sprycel® Approved for Philadelphia Chromosome-positive CML and ALL 06/30/2006
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sprycel® (dasatinib) for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) among patients who have stopped responding to or cannot tolerate prior therapies including Gleevec® (imatinib) and for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) among patients who have stopped responding ...

Mini Transplants Provide Benefit in Patients with CLL Who Have Stopped Responding to Fludara® 06/22/2006
According to results presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), mini allogeneic stem cell transplants appear to provide significant benefit in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who have stopped responding to standard therapies, including the chemotherapy agent Fludara® (fludarabine). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) ...

Tasigna® and Sprycel® Show Promise in Patients with Gleevec®-resistant CML 06/20/2006
According to results from two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the targeted agents Tasigna® (nilotinib; also known as AMN107) and Sprycel® (dasatinib; also known as BMS-354825) produce anticancer responses in some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who cannot tolerate Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) or who ...

Modified Regimen Reduces Neutropenia in CLL 06/19/2006
According to results recently presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), modified doses of the regimen including Rituxan® (rituximab), Fludara® (fludarabine), and cyclophosphamide—referred to as mFCR—provides high anticancer activity with fewer side effects in untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is ...

Specific Mutations Associated with Significant Differences in Outcomes in AML 06/15/2006
According to results presented at a plenary session at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), specific mutations referred to as KIT mutations are associated with significantly worse outcomes for patients with a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer ...

GVAX® Achieves Significant Anticancer Responses in CML 06/15/2006
According to results presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the investigative immunotherapy agent GVAX® provides promising and long-lasting anticancer responses among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).   Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the ...

AMN107 Active in Patients with CML Who Have Stopped Responding to Gleevec® 06/13/2006
According to results presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the targeted agent AMN107 is effective and well-tolerated in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who do not respond to or cannot tolerate Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called ...

Campath® Provides Superior Responses to Chlorambucil as Initial Therapy in CLL 06/09/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Campath® (alemtuzumab) provides significantly superior anticancer responses with acceptable side effects when compared with chlorambucil as initial therapy of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common ...

Gleevec® for CML: Long-lasting Anticancer Responses Confirmed 06/06/2006
Researchers from the Oregon Health and Science University have reported that patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) experience long-term, durable anticancer responses to first-line treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). In fact, five-year overall survival with Gleevec is greater than with any other therapy for CML; as well, patients ...

Tests May Improve Management of Patients with AML 05/19/2006
According to a news release from the Genzyme Corporation, two new tests may improve the care of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by providing information about prognosis and by allowing for the early detection of relapse. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood ...

Donor Lymphocyte Infusions Improve Cancer-Free Survival, Not Overall Survival, Compared to Gleevec® in Relapsed CML 05/19/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Haematologica, donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) improve cancer-free survival but not overall survival at five years compared to Gleevec® (imatinib) in patients with chronic or accelerated chronic myeloid leukemia whose cancer has recurred following an allogeneic stem cell transplant. The researchers ...

Gleevec® May Inhibit Bone Growth 05/12/2006
Although Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) has improved survival for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, a small study suggests that Gleevec may interfere with bone formation. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in ...

Campath® Following Fludara® Improves Responses in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 05/02/2006
According to an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of Campath® (alemtuzumab) following Fludara® (fludarabine) improves anticancer responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 8,000 people ...

Tests from Circulating Blood Can Substitute for Tests from Bone Marrow in CML 04/07/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Leukemia, a laboratory test called real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on circulating blood may be an appropriate substitute for tests performed on bone marrow samples in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia is a type of hematologic (blood) cancer that ...

Ceplene(TM) Reduces Relapses in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 04/04/2006
According to an early online publication in the journal Blood, the agent Ceplene (histamine dihydrochloride) in addition to interleukin-2 (IL-2) reduces the frequency of relapses at 3 years in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a form of aggressive leukemia. AML originates in a type of ...

Arsenic Trioxide Effective as Single Agent in Newly Diagnosed APL 03/31/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood, the agent arsenic trioxide, when used as a single agent, provides impressive outcomes among patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fast-growing cancer of the blood cells. ...

Early Treatment with Reduced Intensity Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant May Benefit Patients with AML 03/27/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Leukemia,“mini” allogeneic stem cell transplants used as initial therapy provide impressive cancer-free survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of ...

High-Dose Gleevec® and Low-Dose Chemotherapy Effective for Relapsed PH-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 03/17/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Leukemia, high doses of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) and low-dose chemotherapy appears to be an effective and well tolerated treatment regimen for patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive (PH+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia or chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis. Leukemia is a type ...

Long-Term Study Shows Safety of Neupogen® in AML Treatment 03/17/2006
According to a recent article published in the journal Leukemia, the growth factor Neupogen® (filgrastim) is safe and effective when used in the treatment regimen for acute myelogenous leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of immature ...

Pentostatin, Cyclophosphamide, Rituxan® Active in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 03/10/2006
According to an early online article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the treatment combination consisting of the chemotherapy agents pentostatin (Nipent®), cyclohpsophamide (Cytoxan®), and the biologic agent Rituxan® (rituximab) appears promising for patients with recurrent or progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common ...

Long-Term Results Reported for Patients with CML Treated with Stem Cell Transplants 03/06/2006
According to results presented at the 2006 Tandem BMT meeting, long-term results from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia treated with a stem cell transplant have been reported. These data may help provide physicians with insights as to how to further improve treatment for this disease. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also ...

KIT Mutations Associated with Poor Prognosis in Children with AML 02/27/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood, KIT gene mutations among pediatric patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are associated with a poor prognosis, including shorter survival. Patients with this mutation may benefit from alternative or more aggressive treatment options. Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer ...

Treatment Response Linked with Symptom Improvement in CLL 02/22/2006
According to results presented at the Tenth Annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies, the addition of Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) to chemotherapy increased the likelihood of remission in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Patients who achieved the greatest response to treatment also experienced the greatest symptom ...

Test Now Available to Detect Resistance to Gleevec® in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 02/10/2006
Genzyme Corporation has announced that they have just made a test available to the public that can detect whether a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is resistant to treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates in the ...

Declining Risk of AML After Hodgkin's Lymphoma 02/02/2006
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma has declined over time. This decline may be due to changes in the chemotherapy regimens used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma. Hodgkin's lymphoma is a ...

Clolar® and Low-Dose Cytarabine May Be Effective in Elderly Patients with AML 02/02/2006
According to results recently presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the addition of low doses of Cytosar-U® (cytarabine) to Clolar® (clofarabine) is more effective than treatment with Clolar alone for patients 50 years of age or older with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid ...

Addition of Cyclophosphamide to Fludarabine Improves Progression-Free Survival in Younger Patients with CLL 01/31/2006
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, the addition of cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®) to fludarabine (Fludara®) improves anticancer responses, progression-free survival, and time to subsequent treatment among younger patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, results have not yet indicated that the combination of cyclophosphamide/fludarabine improves ...

Reduced Intensity Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Benefit Older Patients with AML 01/31/2006
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, “mini” allogeneic transplants (also referred to as reduced-intensity transplants), including either related or unrelated stem cell donors, may benefit elderly patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood ...

Revlimid® Shows Activity in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 01/26/2006
According to results presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the agent Revlimid®  (lenalidomid) demonstrated significantly anticancer activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia that has stopped responding to previous therapies. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult leukemia. The ...

Time to Response to Gleevec® in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Does Not Affect Outcomes 01/23/2006
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the time it takes for a patient to achieve an anticancer response to Gleevec (imatinib) does not appear to affect outcomes; patients who achieved responses within one year or after one year of therapy achieved the same ...

Pesticide Exposure May Increase Risk of Leukemia in Children 01/23/2006
According to a study conducted in France, the risk of childhood acute leukemia was increased by exposure to pesticides in the home, in the garden, and in shampoos used for treating head lice. These results were published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Leukemia is a cancer of the ...

Genetic Features Predict Response of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia to Immunotherapy 01/20/2006
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, specific genetic features may help predict outcomes among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who are treated with the standard therapeutic combination of Rituxan® (rituximab) and Fludara® (fludarabine). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of adult ...

Survival of Pediatric ALL Continues to Improve 01/18/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the average life expectancy for individuals diagnosed with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) continues to increase. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone marrow produces early blood-forming cells called stem cells. ...

Expression of Genes Associated with Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 01/16/2006
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, the expression of specific genes appear to be associated with resistance to certain treatment drugs, as well as overall outcomes, in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. If confirmed, these results will help to individualize therapy for children diagnosed ...

Rituxan® Plus GM-CSF Safe and Effective for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 01/13/2006
Researchers from the MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported that the combination of Rituxan® (rituximab) and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (Leukine®, sargramostim) is well tolerated and very effective in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The results of this phase II clinical trial were presented at the 47th ...

GX15-070 Active in Refractory CLL 01/10/2006
According to results recently presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the agent GX15-070, which is still in clinical trials, has anticancer activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have stopped responding to standard therapies including chemotherapy, Rituxan®, and Campath®. CLL is ...

HuMax®-CD20 Safe and Effective Treatment for Relapsed/Refractory CLL 01/10/2006
According to results recently presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASH), the targeted agent HuMax®-CD20, which is still in clinical trials, provides anticancer activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have stopped responding to Rituxan® (rituximab). CLL is a cancer involving ...

Older AML Patients Do Not Benefit From More Therapy 01/09/2006
According to results presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), patients 60 years of age and over diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) do not benefit from increased doses of the commonly used chemotherapy agents daunorubicin (Cerubidine®) or cytarabine (Cytosar-U®); as well, increasing ...

Investigational Drug Shows Promise in Gleevec®-Resistent CML 12/29/2005
The investigational drug AMN107 has produced treatment responses in some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that does not respond to Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate), as well as in some patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is positive for the Philadelphia chromosome. These results were presented at the 47th annual ...

Treatment with Gleevec® Continues to Show Benefits in CML 12/28/2005
According to updated study results presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) produces good long-term results when used for initial treatment of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).   Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer that originates ...

Vaccine Shows Promise Against Residual Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 12/27/2005
Use of a cancer vaccine after treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) may reduce or eliminate residual leukemia in some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. These results were presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a ...

Desatinib Promising for Patients with CML Who Do Not Respond to Gleevec® 12/23/2005
According to results recently presented at the 47th  annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting, a novel agent desatinib (BM-354825), which is still in clinical trials, is an effective treatment option for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who do not respond to Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), ...

Pentostatin/Cytoxan®/Rituxan® Shows High Activity in High-Risk CLL 11/17/2005
Results recently presented at the 2005 Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium indicate that the treatment regimen consisting of the chemotherapy agents pentostatin (Nipent®) and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) and the monoclonal antibody Rituxan® (rituximab) produces impressive anticancer activity in patients with newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who are considered to have a ...

Thalidomide Plus Fludara® Promising in CLL 11/14/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, the treatment combination of thalidomide plus Fludara® (fludarabine) appears promising for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who require therapy. CLL is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood and blood vessels throughout the body, ...

Updated Results: AMN107 Effective for Patients with CML Who Do Not Respond to Gleevec® 11/08/2005
According to results recently presented at the 23rd annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium in New York, the targeted agent AMN107 provides anticancer responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who do not respond to Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of ...

MicroRNA Expression Associated with Disease Progression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 10/28/2005
According to a recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a laboratory test that can measure microRNA expression in a cell is able to distinguish between more and less aggressive types of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CLL is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes ...

Phase II Study Suggests Gleevec® Is Safe and Effective for Relapsed CML 10/25/2005
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients who relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) may be safely and effectively treated with Gleevec® (imatinib-mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white blood cells. ...

“Mini” Transplant is Effective Initial Therapy for High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia 10/24/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, treatment with reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplant (“mini” allogeneic transplant) appears to be effective as initial therapy in patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the ...

Recent Steroid Treatment Increases Risk of Severe Chickenpox 10/17/2005
According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are more likely to develop severe chickenpox if they are treated with prednisone shortly before developing chickenpox. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone marrow produces ...

Early Allogeneic Stem-Cell Transplantation Benefits Some Adults with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia 10/11/2005
Young adults with intermediate-risk acute myeloblastic leukemia had better survival after allogeneic stem cell transplantation in the first complete remission, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled growth ...

Mylotarg® Effective for Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia 10/03/2005
Among patients with a first recurrence of acute myeloid leukemia, 26% achieved remission after treatment with Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin), according to a study published in the journal Cancer. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled abnormal growth of ...

Tryptase May Help Predict Risk of Relapse in AML 09/23/2005
According to a recent article published in Clinical Cancer Research, levels of tryptase in the blood may help identify patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are at a high risk of developing a cancer recurrence following chemotherapy. Those at a higher risk according to tryptase levels may benefit ...

Genasense® Reduces Risk of Cancer Progression in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 09/20/2005
According to results presented at the 2005 International World Congress on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the addition of Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) to chemotherapy reduces the risk of cancer progression in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL more than chemotherapy alone. CLL is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which ...

Vaccine Highly Effective in Hairy Cell Leukemia 09/19/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the vaccine referred to as recombinant immunotoxin RFB4(dsFv)-PE38 (BL22) is highly effective in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). Hairy cell leukemia is a cancer that involves the blood and bone marrow. It is called hairy cell ...

Fludara® Plus Campath® Effective for Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 09/15/2005
According to results recently published in an early on-line version of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the treatment combination consisting of the chemotherapy agent Fludara (fludarabine) plus the monoclonal antibody Campath (alemtuzumab) provides high anti-cancer responses in chronic lymphocytic leukemia that has stopped responding to standard therapies. CLL is a ...

CLAG-M Regimen Effective in Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia 09/02/2005
According to results recently published in the Annals of Hematology, the treatment regimen referred to CLAG-M appears highly effective in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has stopped responding to standard therapies. Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid and ...

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Improves Survival for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients 08/19/2005
According to a recent article published in The Lancet, allogeneic stem cell transplantation improves survival over intensive chemotherapy in children diagnosed with very high-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). ALL, also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone marrow produces early blood-forming ...

Gene Expression Provides Great Accuracy in Leukemia Diagnosis 08/19/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, measuring gene expression through microarray analysis offers great accuracy in providing a specific leukemia diagnosis. Leukemia is a cancer that affects cells in the blood and bone marrow. There are several different classifications or types of leukemia, as well as ...

Mylotarg® Effective in Pediatric Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia 08/18/2005
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, the targeted agent Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) provides anti-cancer responses in children with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid and uncontrolled abnormal growth of immature white ...

Survival and Response to Treatment Among Elderly Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia 08/15/2005
According to a study published in the Annals of Oncology, several patient-related and disease-related characteristics can help predict survival among elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow produces abnormal blood cells or platelets. Since these cells ...

Children Living Near High Voltage Power Lines Have Increased Risk of Leukemia 07/13/2005
According to results recently published in British Medical Journal, children living within 200 meters of high-voltage power lines have a 70-percent increased risk of developing leukemia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone ...

Regimen Consisting of Fludara®, Cytoxan® and Rituxan® Highly Active in Recurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 06/23/2005
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy treatment combination consisting of the agents Fludara (fludarabine) and Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) plus the targeted agent Rituxan (rituximab) provides promising anticancer responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has stopped responding to ...

Eradication of Minimal Residual Disease in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia After Alemtuzumab Therapy is Associated With Prolonged Survival 06/14/2005
The Journal of Clinical Oncology has recently published a study reporting that remission may be accomplished among chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment with the drug alemtuzumab (Campath®). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a disease of the blood and bone marrow that results in the ...

Gleevec® Shows Promise for the Treatment of Select Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 06/13/2005
A recent study published in the journal Blood reports that first line treatment with Imatinib (Gleevec®) for certain patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia appears to effectively treat the disease while improving overall survival. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that causes the ...

Regular Daycare Attendance May Reduce the Risk of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 05/06/2005
According to a recent article published in the British Medical Journal, if children under the age of one attend daycare on a regular basis, they have a significantly reduced risk of developing acute lymphocytic leukemia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the bone ...

AMN107 Effective for Patients with CML Who Do Not Respond to Gleevec® 05/06/2005
According to results recently presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), the targeted agent AMN107 provides anti-cancer responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who do not respond to Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is ...

Gleevec® is Cost Effective for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 05/04/2005
According to results recently published in Cancer, Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) is more cost-effective than interferon-alpha plus low-dose cytarabine in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white blood cells. The bone marrow contains early blood-forming cells called ...

Early Study Shows Promise in the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia 04/22/2005
A recent article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that the results of an early study indicate that a new drug known as oblimersen (G3139) can be safely administered in combination with chemotherapy and shows promise as a possible treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is ...

Mini-Transplants Promising for Follicular Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 04/20/2005
According to results presented at the 2005 meeting of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, mini-transplants, or reduced intensity allogeneic transplants, appear promising in the treatment of follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are cancers that affect the immune system. They ...

Banking Cord Blood from Sibling of a Child that Could Benefit from a Transplant Feasible 04/14/2005
According to results presented at the 31st meeting of the European Bone Marrow Transplant Group, parents of a child that could benefit from a stem cell transplant should consider collecting and banking umbilical cord blood from a newborn sibling. Stem cell transplantation is the only curative treatment option for some ...

Vaccine for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Shows Promise 03/21/2005
According to the results of a study recently reported in the Lancet, researchers from Italy have reported that a new vaccine may eradicate residual leukemia cells left in the bone marrow after treatment with Gleevec® or interferon for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a blood disease ...

Early Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Benefit Intermediate-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia 03/01/2005
French researchers have reported that allogeneic stem cell transplants in first complete remission (CR) benefit intermediate-, but not good- or poor-risk patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The details of an analysis of 17 years of study were presented at the 2005 Tandem BMT meetings in Keystone Colorado, February ...

Are Two Umbilical Cord Blood Units Better Than One for Transplantation? 02/10/2005
The results of a study recently published in Blood indicate that the transplantation of two partially HLA-matched umbilical cord blood (UCB) units is “safe and may overcome the cell-dose barrier that limits the use of UCB in many adults and adolescents.” Allogeneic stem cell transplants are an important component of ...

BMS-354825 May Provide Anti-Cancer Responses to Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Who are Resistant to Gleevec® 01/31/2005
According to results presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), an agent still in clinical trials referred to as BMS-354825 may help patients to overcome resistance to Gleevec® (imatinib) for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic ...

Clolar™ Approved for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 12/29/2004
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Clolar™ (clofarabine) for the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Clolar™ is indicated for patients aged 1 to 21 years who have received at least 2 prior treatment regimens. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer ...

Tipifarnib Produces Anti-Cancer Responses in Elderly with Acute Myeloid Leukemia 12/16/2004
According to results presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the targeted agent tipifarnib (Zarnestra™) produces anti-cancer responses and may improve survival in elderly patients who cannot tolerate standard treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and ...

Gene Expression Profiles Helps Predict Response to Tipifarnib in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 12/15/2004
According to results recently presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, gene expression profiles obtained from bone marrow samples of patients with acute myeloid leukemia may help predict which patients will respond to treatment with tipifarnib. Understanding the probability of outcomes with treatment with ...

Umbilical Cord Blood an Acceptable Alternative for Stem Cell Transplantation in Leukemia 12/02/2004
According to results from two studies recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, hematopoietic stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborn infants provide an effective alternative to hematopoietic stem cells from the bone marrow of donors for an allogeneic stem cell transplant in patients with leukemia ...

Protein Expression Predicts Aggressiveness of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 09/02/2004
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, levels of expression of the protein ZAP-70 predicts the aggressiveness of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in younger patients and may help to individualize treatment options. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), also referred to as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a ...

Early Intensified Treatment According to Risk Improves Survival in Pediatric Leukemia 09/01/2004
According to a recent article published early in the online version of the journal Blood, pediatric patients with ALL should be treated according to their risk of developing a cancer recurrence following treatment. For those considered to be at a high risk of developing a recurrence, early intervention with ...

Simple Diagnostic Test for Hairy Cell Leukemia 08/30/2004
According to a recent article published in The Lancet, a marker identified by gene profiling referred to as Annexin A1 (ANXA1) can help distinguish hairy cell leukemia from different kinds of leukemia. Hairy cell leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the immune system in which lymphocytes, the cells ...

Elderly with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Achieve Long-Term Survival with Treatment 08/19/2004
According to results published in a recent advanced online article in the journal Blood, long-term cancer-free survival can be achieved with treatment consisting of an anthracycline and ATRA for elderly patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a fast-growing ...

Gene Expression Profiling Helps Predict Response to Treatment of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 08/05/2004
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, expressions of specific genes help predict a patient's response to standard therapy in those diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone marrow produces ...

Dexrazoxane Reduces Heart Damage Caused by Doxorubicin in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 07/12/2004
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the free-radical scavenger agent dexrazoxane reduces damage to the heart caused by the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, without compromising the effectiveness of treatment. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the ...

Ceplene™ Improves Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 05/27/2004
According to results from a recent clinical trial, the agent Ceplene™ in addition to interleukin-2 appears to improve survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of leukemia in adults. AML is a cancer of the bone marrow and ...

Gene Clustering Helps to Classify Patients with AML 05/07/2004
According to two recent publications in The New England Journal of Medicine, expressions of specific clusters of genes help to classify patients with acute myeloid leukemia, ultimately leading to more individualized treatment options. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the uncontrolled ...

Gene Profiling may Aid in Treatment Options in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 03/19/2004
According to results presented at the 2004 International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry/American Association for Blood and Marrow Transplant (IBMT/ASBMT) tandem meetings, specific genes and gene profiling will undoubtedly become components involved in treatment decisions for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Presenters at the meeting stressed that it ...

Addition of Rituxan® to Fludara® may Improve Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 01/05/2004
According to results recently presented at the 45th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the addition of Rituxan® to Fludara® may improve survival as initial therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). 1 However, this was not a clinical trial directly comparing regimens, and further research is ...

PKC 412 Promising for Acute Myeloid Leukemia 12/17/2003
According to results presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the oral agent PKC 412 appears promising for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the uncontrolled growth of ...

ATRA Plus Trisenox®: A Promising Treatment for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia 12/17/2003
According to results presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the combination of all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®) improves cancer-free survival compared with either agent alone in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subset of ...

Zarnestra™ Promising for Acute Myeloid Leukemia 12/12/2003
According to results presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the agent Zarnestra™ (tipifarnib, R115777) appears promising for the treatment of some patients with recurrent acute myeloid leukemia (AML), or for patients with AML who are not suitable candidates for more intensive therapy. ...

Gleevec® Effective in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 12/12/2003
According to results presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, Gleevec® (imatinib, Glivec®) produces significant anti-cancer responses and may improve survival in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system and ...

Rituxan® Promising for Hairy Cell Leukemia 12/01/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, Rituxan® (rituximab) produces high anti-cancer response rates in patients with hairy cell leukemia that has recurred following previous therapy. Hairy cell leukemia is a cancer that involves the blood and bone marrow. It is called hairy cell leukemia because ...

SU5416 Demonstrates Activity in Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia 10/17/2003
According to results recently published in the journal Blood, the anti-angiogenesis agent SU5416 has demonstrated anti-cancer activity in the treatment of refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled abnormal growth of immature white blood ...

Mercaptopurine Remains Choice of Maintenance Therapy for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 10/17/2003
According to results recently published in the journal Blood, the agent mercaptopurine is just as effective with fewer side effects than thioguanine when used as maintenance therapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone ...

Gleevec® Effective and Safe in Elderly with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 09/26/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, treatment with Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) is just as effective in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia over the age of 60 as in their younger counterparts. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of ...

Gleevec® is Treatment of Choice as Single-Agent Initial Therapy in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 09/05/2003
According to a recent publication in The Lancet, results from a large clinical study provide confirmatory evidence that Gleevec® (imatinib) is superior to interferon for initial treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white blood ...

Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with Radiation to the Brain Suffer Long-Term Side Effects 09/05/2003
According to recent results published in The New England Journal of Medicine, children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who receive treatment including radiation therapy to the brain are at an increased risk of suffering long-term side effects. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone ...

G-CSF May Improve Cancer-Free Survival in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 08/28/2003
According to results recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the use of G-CSF during induction therapy may improve cancer-free survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled abnormal growth ...

“Mini” Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Effective in Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 07/23/2003
According to a recent article published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, “mini” (non-myeloablative) allogeneic stem cell transplants are effective and safe for patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood, and blood vessels ...

FDA Approves Gleevec® for Pediatric Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 06/08/2003
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Gleevec® for the treatment of Philadelphia-chromosome positive pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia that has stopped responding to standard therapy. This is the first approval of a pediatric cancer drug in over a decade. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic ...

"Mini" Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Offer Elderly with AML or MDS a Chance of Cure 04/30/2003
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, "mini" allogeneic stem cell transplants may provide a chance for a cure for patients over 60 years of age with poor-prognosis myeloid (blood) malignancies. High-dose chemotherapy tends to kill more cancer cells than conventional chemotherapy. However, the ...

Adolescents Have Improved Survival when Treated on Pediatric Protocols for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 03/04/2003
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, adolescents aged 15 to 20 years have significantly improved cancer-free survival when treated on pediatric treatment protocols instead of adult treatment protocols for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow ...

Addition of Thalidomide Not Effective in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndromes 02/28/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, thalidomide does not appear to provide any anti-cancer activity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized by the rapid uncontrolled abnormal growth of ...

Neupogen® Safe in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/20/2003
According to results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the use of Neupogen® (filgrastim) appears safe and effective when used in the therapeutic regimen for acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood characterized ...

Proleukin® Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplant may Improve Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/17/2003
According to a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the addition of Proleukin® (interleukin-2) following high-dose therapy and an autologous stem cell transplant may improve cancer-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the ...

Agent Orange Exposure Increases Risk of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 01/27/2003
According to the National Institute of Medicine, which is a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, recently released data indicates an increased risk of developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in Vietnam Veterans who were involved in the handling or exposure of agent orange. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a ...

Increasing Doses of Gleevec® may Enhance Responses in Patients with Refractory Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 01/14/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, increasing the doses of Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate, STI 571) may induce responses in patients who stopped responding to lower doses of Gleevec®. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white blood ...

Genasense" may Have Activity in Acute Leukemias 01/13/2003
According to a recent article in the journal Blood, Genasense™ (G3139) appears to have anti-cancer activity in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia that has recurred or stopped responding to previous therapies. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) are fast-growing cancers of blood ...

Gleevec® Approved for Initial Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 12/27/2002
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Gleevec® for initial treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph-positive) chronic myeloid leukemia. 1 Gleevec® is now approved for all stages of Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white blood cells. The ...

Mylotarg® Followed by Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Effective for Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia 12/13/2002
According to recent results presented at the 2002 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the biologic agent Mylotarg® following an allogeneic stem cell transplant appears to be an effective approach in the treatment of relapsed acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer ...

Rituxan® Plus Fludara® Active in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 10/25/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, Rituxan® (rituximab) plus Fludara® (fludarabine) appears to an active therapeutic regimen for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood and blood vessels found ...

Parental Use of Some Medications Associated with Increased Incidence of Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 10/11/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, parental use of some medications or drugs prior to conception or during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of their offspring developing acute lymphocytic leukemia. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph ...

“Mini” Transplants Appear Effective for Some Patients who Relapse Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplants 10/02/2002
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, “mini” allogeneic stem cell transplants may improve survival in patients with cancers of the immune system whose disease has progressed following an autologous stem cell transplant. High-dose chemotherapy tends to kill more cancer cells than conventional ...

Peripheral Blood Monitoring Instead of Bone Marrow Effective in Children Treated with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 09/23/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, peripheral (circulating) blood appears to be at least as effective as bone marrow samples for the detection of minimal residual disease in children treated for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the bone ...

Campath® Produces High Responses in Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 08/13/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, the monoclonal antibody Campath® (alemtuzumab) appears to be a highly effective treatment in patients with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in adults and is typically diagnosed in patients ...

Low-Dose Radiation plus Donor Lymphocyte Infusion Produces Responses in Refractory Hematologic Cancers 08/09/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, low-dose total body irradiation plus donor lymphocyte infusions appear to produce anti-cancer responses in patients with hematologic (blood) cancers that are unresponsive to standard chemotherapy. Hematologic cancers include leukemias and lymphomas. Often, patients with these diseases are treated with ...

Recombinant Growth Hormone Appears to Safely Stimulate Height Increase in Pediatric Patients Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 07/31/2002
Results from two clinical trials recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and The Lancet, have indicated differences in their findings regarding the use of growth hormone (GH). However, the trials involved two different preparations of GH: recombinant GH and human pituitary GH. The first study, published ...

Elitek™ Approved by FDA for Tumor Lysis Syndrome 07/19/2002
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Elitek™ (rasburicase) for pediatric patients at a high risk of developing tumor lysis syndrome from treatment of their cancer. Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can be a serious complication resulting from the treatment of cancer. Tumor lysis syndrome is most often ...

Addition of Ellence® to Fludara® Improves Responses for Elderly with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 07/09/2002
According to results recently presented at the 8th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, the addition of the chemotherapy agent Ellence® (epirubicin) to Fludara® (fludarabine) appears to improve anti-cancer responses, compared to Fludara® alone in elderly patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the ...

Ontak® Delivers Anti-Cancer Responses in Refractory CLL 06/28/2002
According to results recently presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the biologic agent Ontak® (denileukin diftitox) appears to produce anti-cancer responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia that has stopped responding to standard therapies. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving ...

Reduction of Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Mini-Transplants: National Institutes of Health Clinical Trial Enrolling Patients 06/11/2002
The National Institutes of Health is currently recruiting patients for a clinical trial to evaluate a novel approach in reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease in elderly patients with certain hematological (blood) malignancies who are to undergo a “mini” allogeneic stem cell transplant. Many patients with certain hematological malignancies ...

Prolonged Maintenance Therapy for Poor-Prognosis Acute Myeloid Leukemia may Reduce Relapses 06/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, prolonged maintenance therapy may reduce cancer recurrences compared to intensive consolidation therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia with a poor prognosis. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone ...

Gleevec® Superior to Interferon as Initial Treatment of CML 05/28/2002
According to results recently presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Gleevec® demonstrated superior effectiveness and was better tolerated than interferon as initial treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white ...

Treatment Outcome for t(8;21) AML Defined by White Blood Cell Index 05/23/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, the white blood cell index (white blood cell count multiplied by the percentage of immature white blood cells called marrow blasts) appears to be the most accurate indicator of treatment outcomes in patients with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia. ...

U.S. House of Representatives Passes Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act 05/13/2002
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act in conjunction with Blood Cancer Advocacy Day. The Hematological Cancer Research Investment and Education Act will amend the Public Health Service Act to provide research, information and education about blood cancers. Blood cancers include ...

Campath® Effective for Refractory CLL 05/13/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, Campath® (alemtuzumab) appears to be an effective treatment option for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who have stopped responding to standard chemotherapy agents, including Fludara® (fludarabine). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which ...

Sperm Banking Only Offered to Half of Young Male Patients Undergoing Cancer Therapy 04/24/2002
According to two recent articles published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, only half of young male patients who are to undergo treatment for cancer are offered the option of sperm banking prior to therapy. Treatment of cancer is associated with many side effects, with specific agents or treatment ...

St. John’s Wort May Reduce Efficacy of Camptosar® 04/16/2002
According to results recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, the herbal medicine St. Johns wort may reduce the efficacy of the chemotherapy agent Camptosar® when taken together. Camptosar® (irinotecan, CPT-11) is a commonly used chemotherapy agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer ...

Mortality from Some Cancer Surgeries Reduced in Large-Volume Hospitals 04/15/2002
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, death related to surgical procedures (surgical mortality) for some cancers may be significantly reduced if patients receive treatment in hospitals that perform large volumes of the surgical procedure annually. The surgical removal of cancer is ...

E Coli-Asparaginase Superior to Erwinia-Asparaginase for Pediatric ALL 04/08/2002
According to results recently published in the journal Blood, asparaginase obtained from Eschericia coli appears to improve survival compared to asparaginase obtained from Erwinia chrysanthemi in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) are cancers of the bone marrow and lymph system. ...

Campath® Plus Fludara® Produces Responses in Refractory CLL 03/22/2002
According to an article recently published in the journal Blood, the combination of Campath® plus Fludara® appears to produce significant anti-cancer activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia that has stopped responding to each agent alone. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, ...

Further Data Supporting Bone Marrow Transplantation in First Complete Remission for High-Risk ALL Patients 03/14/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, data from a clinical trial appears to provide further evidence that supports allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) during first complete remission in patients with high-risk ALL. ALL, also called acute ...

Consolidation Therapy May Improve Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Efficacy in AML Patients with Favorable Cytogenetics 03/12/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, evidence suggests that consolidation therapy prior to autologous stem cell transplantation may improve outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with favorable cytogenetics. Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disease or cancer of ...

Allogeneic and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Effective Post Remission Treatments for Adult ALL 03/12/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, allogeneic and autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) appear to increase survival rates and reduce frequency of relapses in adults with ALL in first complete remission. These results also suggest that allogeneic SCT ...

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation Indicated for Children with Philadelphia- Positive ALL 03/07/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, children with Philadelphia-positive ALL appear to have superior survival rates when their first remission is followed with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation rather than chemotherapy. ALL, also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer ...

Further Evidence of Cytogenetics’ Role in Risk Assessment of Adults with AML 03/06/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, cytogenetics determined prior to treatment may predict initial treatment success and overall survival in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow ...

Hyper-CVAD with Gleevec® Effective for Philadelphia Chromosome Adult ALL or CML in Lymphoid Blast Phase 03/06/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the chemotherapy regimen known as hyper-CVAD in combination with the biologic agent Gleevec® appears highly effective against Philadelphia chromosome ALL or chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in lymphoid blast phase (CML-LBP). ALL, also called ...

Mylotarg™ in Combination with First Course Standard Induction Chemotherapy May Be Feasible for Patients with AML 03/05/2002
According to results recently reported by the MRC AML Working Group, research suggests that Mylotarg™ in combination with standard induction chemotherapy may be feasible in the first course of treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow and ...

Adolescents and Young Adults with AML May Benefit from Pediatric Protocols 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, research suggests that adolescents and young adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may have better survival when treated on pediatric rather than adult treatment protocols. Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the ...

Cancer-Free Survival Improved with Prolonged Maintenance Chemotherapy in AML 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, research suggests that prolonged maintenance chemotherapy may improve cancer-free survival but not overall survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood ...

C-Kit Levels Indicative of Response to Chemotherapy in AML 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, data from a recent clinical trial indicates that patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have high levels of c-kit do not respond favorably to chemotherapy. The researchers conducting this trial suggest ...

Mylotarg® Plus Chemotherapy Safe and Effective as Initial Therapy for AML 03/05/2002
According to results recently reported at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the combination of Mylotarg® and chemotherapy is safe and effective therapy for the initial treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the bone marrow ...

Additional Therapy Reduces Recurrences in Acute Myeloid Leukemia 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, data from a recent clinical trial indicates that patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may benefit from additional pre-transplant chemotherapy while in first complete remission (disappearance of cancer). Acute myeloid leukemia is a ...

Activated Macrophages and Rituxan™ Promising for CLL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, activated macrophages combined with Rituxan™ appear to eliminate residual cancer on the molecular level in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph ...

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Effective for Long-Term Remission of CLL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) improves cancer-free survival compared to autologous SCT in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph ...

Allogeneic Mini-Transplants Effective and Safer for Advanced CLL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, allogeneic mini-transplants appear to produce significant anti-cancer responses and are safer than high-dose regimens in patients with advanced CLL. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes ...

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants Improve Survival for Patients with Recurrent CLL 03/05/2002
According to recent results reported at the 43 rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, allogeneic stem cell transplants appear to improve long-term survival over moderate-dose therapies for patients with recurrent chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes ...

Concurrent Rituxan™ and Fludara® Appears Better Than Sequential Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, concurrent delivery of Rituxan™ and Fludara® produces significantly higher anti-cancer responses than sequential administration of these same agents for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the ...

Subcutaneous Alemtuzumab Effective and Well Tolerated in Untreated CLL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, subcutaneous alemtuzumab therapy appears to induce high anti-cancer responses and is well tolerated by patients with previously untreated CLL. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes ...

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation Effective Against CLL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may produce long-term, cancer-free survival for patients with recurrent chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, ...

G3139 Produces Anti-Cancer Responses in Refractory CLL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, the anti-Bcl2 agent known as G3139 appears to significantly reduce cancer levels of CLL refractory to chemotherapy, even when administered alone. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, ...

Intensified Induction Therapy May Reduce Relapses in APL 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, evidence suggests that patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) may have a low rate of cancer recurrence after intensified induction therapy including high dose cytarabine and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Acute myeloid leukemia ...

Low Dose Interferon as Effective as High Dose Interferon for CML 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, evidence suggests that low-dose interferon alpha (IFNa) has similar anti-cancer activity compared to high-dose IFNa, with fewer side effects for patients with CML. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is ...

Chemotherapy in Addition to Interferon May not Improve Survival for Newly Diagnosed CML 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, evidence suggests that combination chemotherapy versus interferon alone may improve responses but not survival in newly diagnosed patients with CML. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of ...

Gleevec® Effective in Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, further evidence indicates that Gleevec® appears to produce long-term, anti-cancer responses in a significant portion of patients in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is ...

Early Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant May Not be Optimal for Certain Patients with Low-Risk CML 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, evidence suggests that early an allogeneic stem cell transplant may not be the best approach for some patients with low-risk chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is ...

Gleevec® Improves Survival in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Accelerated Phase 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, further evidence indicates that Gleevec® appears to produce anti-cancer responses and improves survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase (CML-AP). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is ...

Children with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia and Down Syndrome Benefit from Aggressive Therapy 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who also have Down Syndrome may benefit from aggressive induction therapy. ALL, also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. ...

Prednisone-Resistant ALL Achieves Improved Outcomes with Aggressive BFM Treatment 03/05/2002
According to results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, children with ALL that is resistant to prednisone may achieve cancer-free survival with intensive chemotherapy. ALL, also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone ...

Simple Test Detects Minimal Residual Disease & Indicates Probability of Relapse for ALL 03/05/2002
Results recently presented at the 43 rd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology indicate that a simple, standardized test may quickly and effectively determine minimal residual disease levels, which appears linked to probability of relapse, following remission induction in patients with ALL. ALL, also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, ...

Folate Supplementation During Pregnancy May Decrease Risk of Common ALL in Children 03/05/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Lancet, maternal folate supplementation during pregnancy may have a protective effect against acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system. The bone marrow produces ...

Central Nervous System Recurrence of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia May Require More Aggressive Therapy 02/21/2002
The majority of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are now cured with modern combination chemotherapy and prophylactic central nervous system treatment to prevent meningeal relapses (leukemia growing in the spinal fluid). Despite prophylactic treatment some children still experience leukemia recurrence in the central nervous system. Although the central nervous ...

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: High-Dose Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes for those with Philadelphia Chromosome 02/21/2002
Many persons with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) have a good chance for remission with the current standard treatments. However, some persons have risk factors for not doing as well as others. In particular, an abnormal chromosome (called the Philadelphia chromosome) found in the leukemia cells of some individuals, ...

Administration of Chemotherapy Before Radiation Therapy May Benefit Some Children Who Have Central Nervous System Recurrence of Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL) 02/21/2002
Researchers affiliated with the Pediatric Oncology Group report improved survival rates of children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who have a single relapse (return of cancer) in the brain. These results were achieved by the administration of intensive chemotherapy into the spinal fluid followed in six months by ...

Aggressive Multi-Agent Chemotherapy Cures the Majority of Younger Patients with Burkitt's Type Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia but has Significant Side Effects in the Elderly 02/21/2002
Patients with Burkitt's type acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a very aggressive cancer requiring intensive and often very toxic treatment to obtain good results. There has been a reluctance to treat older patients because of the side effects due to the more intensive treatment regimens. Physicians at the M.D. ...

High-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation for treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second complete remission cures significantly more patients than conventi 02/21/2002
Most, but not all, doctors recommend treatment with allogeneic stem cell transplantation for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in second complete remission. Investigators from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reported the results of a clinical study that compared allogeneic stem cell transplant to conventional chemotherapy treatment in children ...

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is superior to conventional chemotherapy as post-remission therapy for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 02/21/2002
Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who achieve a complete remission to induction chemotherapy need to receive additional post-remission treatment in order to improve their chance of cure and prevent cancer recurrence. The standard treatment approach to post-remission therapy has been to deliver multiple cycles of multi-agent chemotherapy ...

Neupogen® reduces the side effects and mortality in elderly patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 02/21/2002
Treatment of acute leukemia utilizing intensive multi-drug high-dose chemotherapy is necessary in order to produce the best chance of cure. Treatment with intensive chemotherapy is also associated with significant side effects that are discomforting to patients and may prevent them from being treated according to the treatment plan. ...

Oral Fludara® a New Option for Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
According to results recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, oral Fludara® appears to be as safe and effective as intravenous Fludara® in treating advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood and blood vessels ...

Initial Chemotherapy Regimens Compared for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, results from the largest comparative trial evaluating initial chemotherapy regimens indicate that fludarabine may be the optimal choice for advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph ...

Rituxan® for Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Produces Responses, Duration Short 02/21/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Blood, Rituxan® safely produces anti-cancer activity in patients with pre-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, the duration of these anti-cancer responses appears relatively short. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood, ...

FDA Approves Alemtuzumab for Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved alemtuzumab for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have failed standard chemotherapy. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood, and blood vessels found throughout the body, as ...

Detection of Genetic Alterations Can Individualize Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
A recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicates that the detection of specific genetic alterations may help to individualize therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Through individualized therapy, patients who are at an increased risk of a cancer recurrence can receive more ...

Fludarabine: Initial Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? 02/21/2002
A relatively new chemotherapy agent, called fludarabine, presents another effective initial treatment option for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system, which includes lymph nodes, blood ...

Alemtuzumab Receives FDA "Fast Track" Status for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
Alemtuzumab, a monoclonal antibody, has been shown to produce anti-cancer responses in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who have stopped responding to standard treatments. These results have prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant alemtuzumab “fast track” status - the quickest route available ...

Gene Therapy May Hold Promise for Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
A novel gene therapy strategy has shown significant potential towards a possible breakthrough in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Results from a recent clinical study published in the journal Blood showed a reduction in cancer following a treatment utilizing a specific gene therapy approach. Every ...

Increased Doses of Rituxan® Appear to Improve Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
Increased doses of Rituxan®, the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA, may significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to researchers from the MD Anderson Center. Rituxan® has been shown to have anti-cancer activity in the treatment against non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and is ...

Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide, with Neupogen®, is Effective Initial Therapy against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
The chemotherapy combination of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, with the support of Neupogen®, appears to be an active and well tolerated regimen in persons with low-grade lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, according to a new report by researchers in Maryland and Washington, DC. Lymphomas that are referred to as low-grade ...

Cladribine and Cyclophosphamide: A Promising Treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) 02/21/2002
Researchers from Belgium report a high response rate to the chemotherapy combination of Cladribine and Cyclophosphamide in persons with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) who have failed initial therapy. Lymphomas that are referred to as low-grade lymphomas are types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer of the ...

Cladribine, in Combination with Prednisone or Alone, Shows Activity in Selected Persons with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) 02/21/2002
According to a study including almost 400 people, Cladribine, with or without prednisone, appears to be a well-tolerated, effective drug for treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), particularly for those who have not had previous chemotherapy treatment. CLL is a cancer involving the lymph (immune) system which ...

The American College Of Surgeons Commission On Cancer and The American Cancer Society Define Incidence and Outcomes for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
The natural history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia may be changing for reasons that are unclear. There has been the impression that this is a relatively benign cancer and should not be treated until symptoms develop. Many physicians utilize a treatment strategy of watchful waiting, initiating treatment only when ...

Autologous Stem-Cell Transplant May Prolong Survival for Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia but Cure is Unlikely 02/21/2002
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is, in general, an incurable cancer. Doctors have learned from studies in other leukemias that one way to cure more patients is to administer large doses of chemotherapy drugs for a short period of time. The high doses of chemotherapy destroy more cancer cells. The ...

Stem Cell Transplant Shows Promise for the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
Autologous or allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplants have not been widely evaluated in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Autologous transplants have been slow to develop because of concerns about cancer cells contaminating the stem cell collection. Allogeneic transplants have been slow to develop because ...

Patients Die Unexpectedly Following Treatment with Arsenic Trioxide 02/21/2002
Three sudden deaths occurred in a small clinical trial involving patients treated with arsenic trioxide for recurrent acute promyelocytic leukemia, as recently reported in the journal Blood. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a type of acute myeloid leukemia. APL is a cancer of the white blood cells. ...

FDA Approves Arsenic for Treatment of Promyelocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a chemotherapy agent, arsenic, for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia who experience a return of cancer following initial chemotherapy, or who no longer respond to standard chemotherapy. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a type of acute myeloid leukemia. APL ...

Arsenic: An Effective New Treatment for Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Initial treatment typically consists of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracycline chemotherapy. Several groups of physicians in China have recently suggested that arsenic may be an effective drug for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. In the November issue of ...

New Techniques Allowing Earlier Detection of Leukemia Recurrence and Prompt Treatment May Improve Outcomes for Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia usually achieve a clinical remission following initial induction chemotherapy and subsequently receive further treatment (consolidation and/or maintenance therapy) to increase their chance of cure. Following completion of therapy patients are followed closely with frequent visits to the doctor and only treated if a ...

Remissions Induced by Liposomal-Encapsulated All-Trans Retinoic Acid in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia 02/21/2002
All-trans retinoic acid administered orally (oral ATRA) is a component of standard treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Oral ATRA may not regularly lead to either molecular complete remissions or prolonged hematologic complete remissions unless it is combined with chemotherapy. Liposomes are a drug delivery vehicle. Incorporating anti-cancer agents into ...

All transretinoic acid (ATRA) combined with chemotherapy results in superior outcomes for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. 02/21/2002
It has been known for several years that ATRA is an active drug for the treatment of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia which is a leukemia associated with a specific abnormality involving chromosomes 15 and 17. There has been controversy over the optimal way to integrate ATRA into ...

Arsenic may be a very active anti-cancer agent for the treatment of patients with acute leukemia. 02/21/2002
Current standard treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia utilizes all-trans-retinoic acid; however, many patients ultimately relapse and die from their cancer. Several clinical studies performed in China have suggested that arsenic is an active treatment option for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia even when they are refractory to treatment ...

BL22 Immunotoxin Produces High Responses in Hairy Cell Leukemia 02/21/2002
Results from an early-phase clinical trial evaluating an innovative form of treatment involving a toxin from bacteria has demonstrated high anti-cancer activity in patients with hairy cell leukemia, as recently reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. These results are consistent with results from preliminary trials ...

High Response Rates to Immunotoxin in Hairy Cell Leukemia 02/21/2002
An innovative form of treatment involving a toxin from bacteria has demonstrated high anti-cancer activity in patients with hairy cell leukemia (American Association for Cancer Research’s Annual Meeting, 2001). Hairy cell leukemia is a cancer that involves the blood and bone marrow. It is called hairy cell leukemia because ...

High Survival Rates Achieved in Patients with Hairy Cell Leukemia Treated with Pentostatin 02/21/2002
According to results from a recent clinical study published in the journal Blood, patients with hairy cell leukemia who are treated with the chemotherapy drug pentostatin may achieve long-term survival. Although pentostatin has been shown to exert anti-cancer properties in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, there is little ...

Rituxan®: An Effective New Treatment in Hairy Cell Leukemia 02/21/2002
Rituxan®, the first monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA, may be of significant benefit for patients with hairy cell leukemia who stop responding to standard treatment. Rituxan® has been shown to have anti-cancer activity in the treatment against non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and is now emerging as a potential effective ...

Deoxycoformycin Is Effective Against Hairy Cell Leukemia 02/21/2002
Deoxycoformycin is a drug often used to help decrease symptoms and prolong survival in persons with hairy cell leukemia. A recent study confirms the effectiveness of deoxycoformycin against this rare cancer, and the researchers who conducted the study say that these results are comparable to those of another ...

New Immunotoxin Treatment for Hairy Cell Leukemia and Other Cancers 02/21/2002
Hairy cell leukemia is a slow-growing lymphoid leukemia of B-cell type that is usually treated with alfa interferon, 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Patients who fail alfa interferon and 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine and do not have a bone marrow donor have few treatment options and typically succumb to their ...

Chronic myelogenous leukemia: Chemotherapy before alfa interferon may benefit patients with newly diagnosed disease. 02/19/2002
Alfa interferon or bone marrow transplantation are the standard treatments for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia. Although alfa interferon improves survival, few if any patients are cured, and the side effects are considerable. Thus, efforts are being made to improve the results of treatment with alfa ...

Novel Treatment Improves Survival for Acute Leukemia Relapsing after Stem Cell Transplant 02/19/2002
The British Journal of Haematology recently published data suggesting that acute leukemia relapsing after stem cell transplant (SCT) may be effectively treated with reduced intensity chemotherapy and a second allogeneic SCT. Acute leukemias, which include acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid leukemia, are cancers of white blood (immune) cells. ...

Prediction of Outcomes of Pediatric Patients with Relapsed Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/19/2002
According to a recent article published in The Lancet, molecular detection of residual cancer in the first stages of treatment may help predict the outcomes of pediatric patients with relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia. This may ultimately lead to individualized approaches for the treatment of these patients. Acute lymphocytic leukemia ...

Matched Unrelated Donors Prove Effective for Transplantation in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/19/2002
Unrelated, matched donors appear to be just as effective as related, matched donors for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia receiving an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, according to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a ...

Substitution of Dexamethasone in Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment Regimen Leads to Fatal Side Effects 02/19/2002
In children with acute lymphocytic leukemia, the substitution of dexamethasone for prednisone may cause severe side effects including death, with no apparent treatment benefit, according to a recent article published in the journal Cancer. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a cancer of the ...

Lumbar Puncture Safe for Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Low Platelet Levels 02/19/2002
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is the most common cancer occurring in children. ALL is a cancer of the bone marrow and lymph system, characterized by the presence of too many immature lymphocytes, or white blood cells, which are produced by the bone marrow. ...

Novel Agent Appears Promising in the Treatment of Acute Lymphoid Leukemia 02/19/2002
A novel compound called STI571, has been shown to produce responses in patients with a certain type of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) who are no longer responding to chemotherapy. STI571 is still undergoing clinical testing to further define its role as treatment for patients with this disease, but ...

Childhood Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: High-Dose Chemo Plus Stem Cell Transplant from Related Donor Appears Effective 02/19/2002
Approximately 75% to 80% of children having acute lymphocytic leukemia can likely be cured with the currently available standard treatments. However, some children have certain characteristics, or risk factors, that may make them less likely to respond as well to these therapies. Researchers now report that the most ...

Intensive High-Dose Chemotherapy Regimen Improves Survival Time for Persons with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/19/2002
Many persons with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) have a good chance for remission, or freedom from the signs and symptoms of cancer, with the current standard treatments. However, some persons have risk factors for not doing as well as others. In particular, an abnormal chromosome (called the Philadelphia ...

Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Chemotherapy without Radiation May Help Prevent Central Nervous System Recurrence 02/19/2002
In the past, systemic combination chemotherapy (chemotherapy given by mouth or through the vein to treat the whole body) plus radiation therapy to the head and spine have been used to prevent cancer of the brain and spine from recurring in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This ...

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy Improves Survival over Chemotherapy Alone for Children Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant 02/19/2002
Children who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have or are likely to have a relapse after initial therapy often undergo further treatment with high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy with an allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). When a SCT is needed, it is usually given following ...

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test Helps Identify Patient with Residual Lymphoid Leukemia after Treatment 02/19/2002
The basis of treatment for patients with acute lymphoid leukemia is to administer intensive induction chemotherapy followed by one or more intensive consolidation treatments followed by long term maintenance chemotherapy. These principles were developed in clinical trials which were based on the inability to detect small numbers of ...

Therapy Improves Survival over Chemotherapy Alone for Children Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant 02/19/2002
Children who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have or are likely to have a relapse after initial therapy often undergo further treatment with high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy with an allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT). When a SCT is needed, it is usually given following chemotherapy with ...

PCR Test May Help Identify Persons at High Risk for Recurrence of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia 02/19/2002
Persons with acute lymphocytic leukemia often undergo a treatment regimen, consisting of an intensive initial course, intensive second course, and a long-term maintenance course of chemotherapy. This aggressive treatment approach is used to help prevent recurrences, or relapses, of the cancer. However, if doctors were able to determine ...

STI571: A New Treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients! 02/19/2002
Collaborating researchers from several U.S. and European Cancer Centers have recently reported exciting results regarding the effectiveness of a novel agent called STI571 in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. (42 nd annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, 2000). Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, ...

Homoharringtonine and Cytarabine is Effective Treatment for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 02/19/2002
According to researchers from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the National Cancer Institute, the combination of two chemotherapy agents, homoharringtonine and cytarabine, may improve survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Homoharringtonine (HHT) is a natural substance derived from a plant that is currently ...

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: Blood Test Allows Evaluation of Treatment Success without Bone Marrow Exam 02/19/2002
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a cancer that is associated with a genetic abnormality, called the Philadelphia chromosome, which involves the switching of the chromosomes 9 and 22 on the affected cells. Doctors often use a bone marrow test to identify this abnormality and thus determine how well a ...

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: New Molecular Test May Identify Time to Progression to Acute Disease 02/19/2002
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a cancer that progresses slowly, sometimes allowing several months or even several years without symptoms. Eventually, the disease does progress to an acute phase, at which time it advances much more quickly. Now, researchers in England report that a close look at a ...

A New Approach to Donor Lymphocyte Infusion Improves Treatment of Recurrent Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 02/19/2002
High-dose chemo-radiotherapy and stem cell transplant is a standard treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. Unfortunately, some patients will experience leukemia recurrence following treatment. The infusion of lymphocytes collected from the same bone marrow or blood stem cell donor is one effective way to treat patients with chronic myeloid ...

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: Short-Term Interferon Treatment Before Stem Cell Transplant Does Not Negatively Affect Survival 02/19/2002
Persons who have chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a type of cancer of the blood, can undergo an allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) in an attempt at cure. However, to avoid some of the serious risks associated with SCT, some persons with CML choose instead to receive interferon-alfa, which ...

Interferon Treatment may Worsen Outcomes of Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 02/19/2002
Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia are usually treated with alfa interferon and/or an allogeneic bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. Analyses of outcomes from previous studies have suggested that the administration of alfa interferon before an allogeneic transplant may result in inferior outcomes. Patients had been advised ...

New Potentially Curative Drug is Developed for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia 02/19/2002
Currently, the only cure for chronic myeloid leukemia is an allogeneic bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant. In older patients and patients who do not have suitable stem cell donors, the preferred treatment is alfa interferon with or without chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be used in patients who ...

Allogeneic Neupogen® Mobilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Appear Superior to Stem Cells Collected from Bone Marrow Support for Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Undergoing Stem Cell Trans 02/19/2002
Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is the only treatment that cures patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Over the past 2 decades results of bone marrow transplantation have been improving, especially for patients transplanted early in their disease. Over the past several years peripheral blood stem cells collected after administration ...

Treatment of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia with the Combination of Cytarabine Chemotherapy and Interferon Prolong Survival Compared to Treatment with Interferon Alone 02/19/2002
Standard treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase consists of allogeneic stem cell transplantation or interferon. Treatment with interferon has been demonstrated in several clinical trials to prolong survival when compared to other single agent chemotherapy treatment regimens. In order to determine whether the addition ...

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia appears promising and may represent a good treatment alternative to allogeneic stem cell trans 02/19/2002
High-dose chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation as treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia provides patients the best chance of cure. Patients too old to undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation or those without an acceptable stem cell donor are treated with interferon with or without chemotherapy. Interferon-based therapy produces ...

Interferon treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia slows the rate of leukemia progression and improves the duration of survival compared to patients treated with single-agent Hydrea® (hydroxyurea 02/19/2002
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the most consistently curative treatment option for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. Although allogeneic stem cell transplantation is becoming increasingly safe, and older patients are now being treated at some centers, many patients will not qualify either because an acceptable donor cannot be ...

Unrelated donor stem cell transplantation appears to cure the majority of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase. 02/19/2002
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation using an HLA-matched sibling donor can cure the majority of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase. Unfortunately, many patients will not have a related family member that will qualify as an appropriate stem cell donor. Stem cell donors, however, can be identified ...

The early use of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase is increasingly safe, is being used in older patients, and cures the 02/19/2002
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has been performing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as a treatment for chronic myelogenous leukemia for over 30 years and has the world’s largest single institution experience. The outcomes of patients treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center were ...

Agent Orange May Cause AML in Vietnam Veterans’ Children 02/18/2002
A recent review of three scientific studies indicates that there is “limited/suggestive evidence” of an association between exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and the development of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in the children of veterans, according to a recent report from the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM). Acute myelogenous ...

Commercial Jet Cockpit Crew May Have Increased Risk of Leukemia 02/18/2002
Commercial jet aircrew may be at an increased risk for developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as a result of increased exposure to cosmic radiation, according to a study recently published in The Lancet. Researchers have long known that chemotherapy and radiation therapy increase the risk of both myelodysplasia and ...

R115777 Appears Promising for Some Leukemias 02/18/2002
A novel agent called R115777 appears promising for the treatment of some leukemias, according to a recent article published in the journal Blood. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. There are different forms of leukemia, depending upon which type of blood cell is affected and which biological ...

Early Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant is Best Curative Option for Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia 02/18/2002
Superior long-term outcomes are achieved when children with acute megakaryocytic leukemia are treated with an allogeneic stem cell transplant during their first remission, according to a recent article published in the journal Blood. Acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) is a cancer involving the bone marrow, which is the spongy material ...

Evidence Supports Link Between Infection and Childhood Leukemia 02/18/2002
Increased incidence of childhood leukemia during World War II in Orkney and Shetland, the UK’s northernmost islands, could be the result of rural and urban population mixing, thus providing evidence to support the long-held belief that childhood leukemia is related to some type of infection, according to the ...

Novel Agent Shows Anti-Leukemic Activity 02/18/2002
Results from an early-phase clinical trial indicate that a new chemotherapy agent called troxacitabine is safe and may play an important role in the future treatment of some leukemias, according to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. ...

Genetic Alterations Can Determine Optimal Treatment Options for Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/18/2002
A recent article published in the journal Blood indicates that the detection of specific genetic alterations may help to individualize treatment strategies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Through individualized therapy, a patient’s treatment is tailored according to specific biological properties of their cancer in order to ...

Anti-BCL2 Agent Sensitizes Refractory Leukemia to Chemotherapy 02/18/2002
The addition of G3139 to chemotherapy produces anti-cancer responses in leukemia that has stopped responding to chemotherapy alone, according to recent results presented the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells. There are different types of leukemia, depending upon which ...

Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin A Safe and Effective Treatment Option for Patients with Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/18/2002
A new monoclonal antibody, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, administered to patients with recurrent acute myeloid leukemia prior to stem cell transplant may improve survival with minimal side effects, according to recent results presented at the 42 nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of ...

New Treatment Strategies for Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia are Needed 02/18/2002
Acute megakaryocytic leukemia is a rare type of leukemia that occurs mainly in adults. Due to the fact that it is such a rare disease, overall data collection has been relatively sparse, making it difficult to determine biological characteristics of patients and responses to treatments regarding this cancer. ...

Long Term Complications are Common Following Cure of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Children 02/18/2002
Researchers at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN have recently reported that children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are cured after treatment are at a high risk for developing a number of long-term complications later in their life. The importance of this study, published ...

High Survival Rates Reported for Infants with Acute Leukemia Treated with Stem Cell Transplant 02/18/2002
The majority of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) achieve a complete disappearance of cancer following initial treatment with chemotherapy. However, many of these patients will experience a return of the cancer, resulting in a survival rate of less than 50%. Results from ...

Study Suggests Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia May Be Significantly Shortened 02/18/2002
Standard treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) begins with initial moderate-dose chemotherapy that usually induces a remission (no detectable cancer cells in the body). During this remission, patients receive further treatment, called consolidation, in order to decrease the risk for cancer recurrence. Consolidation may consist of ...

Neupogen® Appears As Effective as Donor Lymphocyte Infusion in Treating Persons Whose Leukemia Recurs after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant 02/18/2002
For persons who have a recurrence of leukemia after receiving high-dose therapy with an allogeneic stem cell transplantation, the use of Neupogen® may help provoke an immune reaction against the leukemia cells as effectively as would an infusion of donor white blood cells, according to a recently published ...

New Drug, Gemtuzumab, Is Approved for Older Persons Who Have a Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/18/2002
A new approach to cancer treatment, called antibody-targeted chemotherapy, provides an alternative to chemotherapy for older persons who have a recurrence (return) of acute myeloid leukemia. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved a drug called gemtuzumab ozogamicin for injection, an antibody linked to an ...

Recurrent Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Antibody-Targeted Therapy, Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin, under FDA Priority Review for Older Persons 02/18/2002
A new approach to cancer treatment, called antibody-targeted chemotherapy, may offer expanded treatment options to older persons who have a recurrence (return) of acute myeloid leukemia. A drug called gemtuzumab ozogamicin, an antibody linked to an anti-tumor antibiotic, is currently undergoing priority review by the U.S. Food and ...

Treatment of Leukemia: Allogeneic Transplant Using Peripheral Blood Stem Cells, Rather than Marrow Stem Cells, Is Associated with Faster Blood Count Recovery 02/18/2002
High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation is an important treatment option for many persons with cancer, especially those with leukemia. Although the transplant procedure comes with risks, it is the best chance for cure for many patients. Researchers continue to study which types of stem cell transplantation are ...

Neupogen® Hastens White Blood Cell Production for Persons Receiving Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/18/2002
The use of a biologic therapy, called Neupogen®, appears to speed up white blood cell production in persons who suffer low white blood cell counts after chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. According to French researchers, this finding indicates not only an enhancement of white blood cell production, but ...

Test, Called RT-PCR, Should Be Used to Predict and Avoid Relapses in Persons with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Genetic Abnormality t(8:21) 02/18/2002
Researchers in Belgium are reporting that the use of a sensitive test, a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, should be used to help anticipate potential relapses (return of cancer) after treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), so that additional therapy can be administered before the relapse occurs. ...

Acute Myeloid Leukemia: New Test Helps Predict Relapse, Counter with More Intensive Therapy 02/18/2002
Researchers in England are reporting that use of a sensitive test they developed to detect a genetic abnormality in persons with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after treatment may help predict a relapse (return of cancer), so that more intensive therapy can be administered before the relapse occurs. Acute myeloid ...

Mitoxantrone, Cytarabine and Fludarabine is Effective Therapy for Patients with Refractory Leukemia 02/18/2002
Patients with acute leukemia who fail initial chemotherapy or patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who progress to the blastic phase have a very poor outcome with existing treatment. Few patients achieve a complete remission and remissions are usually of short duration. The only curative approach for the treatment ...

Insufficient Chemotherapy Reduces the Chance of Cure in Good Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients 02/18/2002
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia are traditionally treated with induction chemotherapy utilizing an anthracycline and cytarabine. Patients who achieve a complete response receive consolidation with 1 or more courses of chemotherapy or high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Frequently only one consolidation course is given which compromises the ...

Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Testing of Cancer Cell Genetics Helps Identify Children In Need of Aggressive Treatment 02/18/2002
Children who have acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are most commonly treated with chemotherapy, and 30 to 50% are cured. Importantly, 80% of children with AML have genetic abnormalities that can be detected in the leukemia cells. These abnormalities, usually affecting 1 or more chromosomes, are often associated with ...

Ethyol® Reduces Complications From Chemotherapy in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia 02/18/2002
According to researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center, Ethyol® may help reduce damage to normal tissues caused by chemotherapy treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Chemotherapy targets and kills cancer cells, but does not differentiate between cancer cells and rapidly dividing healthy cells. The destruction ...

A monoclonal antibody linked to a radioactive isotope delivers radiation directly to the bone marrow in patients with leukemia receiving an autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplant. 02/18/2002
A major problem of treating leukemia with high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation is the toxicity of the treatment regimen. High-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy damage normal cells as well as cancer cells leading to unwanted side effects. Doctors have been seeking more selective ways to deliver therapy ...

Lymphocytes grown and expanded in a culture system are a form of immunotherapy that can be used to treat leukemia. 02/18/2002
Doctors have been trying for several years to use lymphocytes reactive specifically against cancer cells as a form of treatment. For many reasons this has been a difficult goal to achieve. First, a lot of lymphocytes (billions and billions) are needed in order to have a therapeutic effect ...

New antibody targeted chemotherapy appears promising for treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. 02/18/2002
For the past decade there has been little improvement in the outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukemia due in part to the lack of development of new agents for treatment. Monoclonal antibodies can identify cancer cells and attach them director or deliver other anti-cancer treatment to the ...

Higher Dose Post-Remission Chemotherapy Consolidation Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Improves Cure and Survival Rates 02/18/2002
Approximately 65-75% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia who receive remission induction therapy will enter a complete remission. Without post-remission consolidation therapy, these patients would experience recurrence and ultimately die of their leukemia. Post-remission consolidation can be achieved following administration of a single course of high-dose chemotherapy supported ...

FDA Approves STI157 Efficacy for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 02/18/2002
The FDA has recently approved STI571 for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic granulocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the white blood cells. The bone marrow contains early blood-forming cells called stem cells, which grow and mature into 3 blood cell types: ...