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Surviving ALL: An Intimate Look at How Cancer Affected the Careers, Relationships & Fertility of Four Young Adults
A cancer diagnosis is a devastating blow for people of all ages, but presents special challenges for young adults. This period of life is usually a time of transition as they are embarking on journeys such as school, relationships and careers. A cancer diagnosis can bring their lives to a screeching halt in the midst of these new adventures.
Tretinoin
Tretinoin is an FDA-approved drug that is used to induce remission in patients who have acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL, also known as "M3 AML"), a type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with the t(15;17) translocation and/or the presence of the PML-RARa gene and who are intolerant of, refractory to, or have relapsed from anthracycline-based chemotherapy.
Azacitidine
Vidaza® is FDA approved to treat
- Adult patients with the following FAB myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes: Refractory anemia (RA) or refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) (if accompanied by neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or requiring transfusions), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL). (1.1)
- Pediatric patients aged 1 month and older with newly diagnosed Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML).
We Dare to Dream so Their Dreams Come True
Did you know that blood cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis for children, accounting for 40% of pediatric cancer cases? In fact, nearly 55,000 children and adolescents in the United States currently have blood cancer or are in remission from blood cancer.
#ASH18: The Beat Goes On
On Sunday, I reported on a press briefing at the 60th ASH Annual Meeting where the preliminary findings of our Beat AML Master Clinical Trial were unveiled. This innovative collaborative study is designed to bring the hope of precision medicine to patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). (Read about our Friday ASH satellite symposium on immunotherapy here).
Investigating the dependency for protein synthesis in Venetoclax/Azacitidine-resistant acute myeloid leukemia
Relapsed and/or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) display resistance to Venetoclax and Azacitidine (Ven/Aza) with approximately one third of patients demonstrating upregulated protein synthesis. This proposal will investigate the mechanism(s) underlying the dependence of Ven/Aza-resistant AML on protein synthesis as well as the functional consequences of targeting this pathway. Successful completion of these studies will provide novel insights into Ven/Aza resistance mechanisms.Precision Targeting of Hairy Cell Leukemia using Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cells
Though effective treatments in hairy cell leukemia and variant (HCLv) exist, they are associated with profound immunosuppression; thus, more targeted, non-toxic therapies are warranted. In order to specifically target leukemic cells while sparing most normal B cells, we will develop a novel chimeric antigen receptor T cell immunotherapy against the IGHV-4-34 B-cell receptor that is found in a significant subset of HCL and associates with poor prognosis.
Highlights from ASH 2021
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting is the premier scientific forum on blood cancers. More than 5,000 potentially game-changing research abstracts were presented at this year’s meeting. Every year, I come away with a strengthened sense of hope about new treatments on the horizon and renewed pride in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) role in supporting so many of them.
Improving BTK Inhibitor Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Through Rational Combination Strategies
Ibrutinib is a targeted oral treatment for CLL that is safe and highly effective, however it must be given indefinitely which leads to chronic side effects and allows resistance to develop. We are conducting two clinical trials that add a second drug to ibrutinib to eliminate the remaining leukemia or ibrutinib-resistant leukemia cells. If these trials are successful, people taking CLL with or without resistance may be able to stop treatment in remission after taking an ibrutinib combination.Targeting immune checkpoint protein B7-H3 (CD276) in acute myeloid leukemia
We found that immune checkpoint protein B7-H3 is overexpressed in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cells compared to normal hematopoietic cells. We have developed four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which successfully block B7-H3 and activate NK cells to induce apoptosis in AML cells. In this proposal we propose to generate therapeutically relevant anti-B7-H3 chimeric recombinant mAbs and test their activity in vivo. In addition, we will identify the receptor for B7-H3 expressed on NK cells.Ponatinib
Ponatinib is FDA approved for the treatment of adult patients with:
High Hopes: How a Rising Star Basketball Player’s Story is Bringing Light to the Darkness of Cancer
Each year, from September to November, thousands of illuminated lanterns light up the sky across the country as part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night fundraising campaign – all to end cancer. For one rising star basketball player and Light The Night Honored Hero, Maurice Smith, taking steps to end cancer gave him, and so many others, high hopes for a brighter future.
Blood Cancer Research Poised for Another ‘Banner Year’ in 2024
More than 25,000 medical professionals from across the world came together in December to discuss the latest blood cancer developments during the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). This annual event gives us the opportunity to think about what advances are on the horizon as LLS works to strengthen cures, care and quality of life for people with blood cancer and their families.
Pharmacological inhibition of the transcription factor PU.1 as a novel treatment for acute myeloid leukemia
Transcription factors are components of a cell which control our genetic information and are known to have altered function in diseases such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). I am investigating how we can better understand and use novel transcription factor drugs as therapy for AML. This involves using CLICK-chemistry drug localization studies and creating transcription factor occupancy maps of the genome. Overall, my work will help to understand the inner workings of transcription factors in disease and provide a new therapeutic option for the treatment of AML.
Statement on the Death of Supreme Court Justice and Trailblazer Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Photo by Nikki Khan/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Here at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), we are devastated to learn of the passing of Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg from complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. As the global leader in the fight against blood cancer, we stand with the cancer community – and all Americans – in mourning this trailblazer whose contributions to public health and equality will be felt by generations to come.
Ushering In a New Era of Pediatric Blood Cancer Treatment and Care
We caught up with Gwen Nichols, MD, Chief Medical Officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), to share the progress we’re making to bring cures and better care to children with blood cancer through The LLS Children’s Initiative.
Tell us about The LLS Children’s Initiative and why it’s so important to you and LLS.
IRONMAN World Championships: 5-Star Team Races for Cancer Cures
After months of rigorous training, all five LLS Team In Training teammates finished at the 2017 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on October 7. The team came together from across the U.S. and Canada to compete in the 140.6 mile iconic triathlon – raising an incredible $435,000 and counting, for blood cancer cures.After months of rigorous training, all five LLS Team In Training teammates finished at the 2017 IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on October 7. The team came together from across the U.S.
Targeting kinase-dependent dysregulation of transcription factor control in acute myeloid leukemia
Defining mechanisms of dysregulated gene control are central to understanding cancer and the development of effective therapies. Our research is focused on the mechanisms of gene control dysregulation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a refractory form of blood cancer that affects both children and adults. Using new methods for manipulating proteins, we are defining essential mechanisms by which AML cells enable cancer-causing gene expression. This work also allowed us to develop new drugs to specifically block this in cancer, but not healthy cells.Burlington Launches Point of Sale Campaign to Benefit LLS September - December
"A Style for Every Smile” – LLS Kicks Off National PR Campaign to Support #1 Partner Burlington
