Search Results
Precision Medicine For DNMT3A-Mutant T-cell ALL
T-cell ALL is an aggressive blood cancer with poor overall survival, high relapse rates, and significant treatment-related side effects. Using primary T-ALL patient samples, this project will study the importance of JAK/STAT signaling and the gene BIRC5 in the pathology of T-ALL driven by DNMT3A mutations using genetic and pharmacological tools. The goal of this proposal is to develop precision medicine approaches for DNMT3A-mutant adult T-ALL patients, a group with poor clinical outcomesRole of Health Insurance and Medicaid Expansion in Racial Inequity in Patterns of Care and Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the most common blood cancer in African Americans. Thanks to advances in treatment, over 50% of patients now survive 5 years compared to 35% in 2000. However, African American patients may not be enjoying the same health gain as White patients, possibly due to poorer access to healthcare. This study will examine the role of health insurance and living in states with expanded eligibility for Medicaid on treatment patterns and survival in African Americans compared to White patients with multiple myeloma.Refining Molecular Risk Prediction & Individualized Lymphoma Therapy Using Circulating Tumor DNA
My group studies variation in clinical outcomes of patients with aggressive lymphomas and tries to capture the underlying basis for this variation. We then integrate insights from our studies into molecular prediction tools that inform the probable outcomes of individual patients when treated with therapeutic regimens that are currently available. We hope to build precise risk models that have high predictive value for clinical outcomes of patients with lymphoma.Exploiting tumor-immune dynamics to inform curative combination therapy for follicular lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma is a common form of blood cancer, affecting 15,000 new patients annually in the United States, but it remains incurable with conventional treatments. Bispecific antibodies represent a new class of therapies that engage the immune system to attack lymphoma cells and have shown promising effectiveness in inducing remissions in patients with this disease, but even they are unlikely to be curative.Pan-heme CAR: Anti-CD38 CAR T cells for myeloid, lymphoid and plasma cell malignancies
Our SCOR team has a razor-sharp focus on an exciting new treatment modality for blood cancers: chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. T cells can be trained to target cancer cells by genetic modification. In fact, previous support from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society allowed us to successfully develop CAR T cells targeted to CD19, a pan-B cell marker.Development of BET protein bromodomain inhibitors for the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies
In July 2012, LLS began its partnership with Constellation to support three first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trials for blood cancer patients and the partnership led to the ongoing trial "A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Active-Control Study of CPI-0610 and Ruxolitinib vs. Placebo and Ruxolitinib in JAKi Treatment Naive MF Patients."
Peer-to-Peer Support
Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection® ProgramIf you or a family member has been diagnosed with a blood cancer, you may find it helpful to speak with someone who has gone through a similar experience and learned how to manage the same disease you're trying to cope with each day. The Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection® Program is a free service of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) that introduces patients and their loved ones to a trained peer volunteer who has gone through a similar experience.
Targeting the inflammatory GM-CSF pathway in high risk CMML
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare but poorly understood blood cancer often presenting with crippling inflammatory symptoms that frequently evolves into acute leukemia. In an ongoing clinical trial, we have compelling molecular and clinical data that this disease responds effectively to blockade of GM-CSF with lenzulimab, a well-tolerated and safe antibody, in combination with azacitidine.A phase 2 expansion study of ICT01, an anti-BTN3A monoclonal antibody, in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax in patients with AML
In June 2022, LLS made an equity investment in ImCheck Therapeutics to "Support Clinical Development of the ICT01 Program for Blood Cancer Indications." ImCheck Therapeutics is designing and developing a new generation of immunotherapeutic antibodies targeting butyrophilins, a novel super-family of immunomodulators.REACH: Recruitment Expansion through community Access to Clinical trials in Hematologic malignancies
Mayo Clinic Rochester (MCR) is a tertiary center with 35,000 blood cancer visits annually. Circa 70% of patients referred to MCR come from 5 states: MN, WI, IA, SD and ND inhabited by 10,483,946 people living primarily in a rural setting. To improve local care access, MCR has developed the Mayo Clinic Health System (MCHS), a network of 17 community sites of which 7 have oncology care. In 2018, the MCR joined with the University of Minnesota to establish the Minnesota Cancer Clinical Trials Network (MCCTN) that includes 18 sites.Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived CAR-T and CAR-NK Cells for Immunotherapy of Leukemia and Lymphoma
Cytotoxic cells of the immune system, including T and NK cells, can be targeted to seek out and destroy leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma cells by engineering them to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) which empower the cell to home to and kill the cancer cells. Typically, such CAR-T and CAR-NK cells are generated from a patient's own blood, but sometimes heavy pre-treatment with chemotherapy leaves inadequate supplies of T and NK cells.Epigenetic Mechanisms and Targeting in Hematological Malignancy
Blood cancers can be caused by aberrant regulation of genes that control cell growth and development. The root cause of this problem may be the presence of mutant regulator proteins in the cell and abnormal switching on or off of target genes. Our SCOR studies the molecular basis of this gene deregulation using cell cultured in the laboratory, in human specimen and animal models.Enhancing the “fitness” of anti-BCMA CAR T cells for improved efficacy in multiple myeloma
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is a form of immune-based therapy where a patient’s own immune cells are genetically engineered to recognize and kill the tumor cells. This therapy has revolutionized the treatment of certain blood cancers and excitingly, two CAR T cell products were recently approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma.Treatment
Which side effects do I need to call my doctor about? Side effects of treatment are usually discussed with patients before the treatment is started. From the doctor's perspective, the side effects of greatest concern may be fever, breathing difficulties, hives or rashes, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and redness or pain at the IV site. From the patient's perspective, any side effect causing discomfort or limiting usual activity, such as diarrhea or nausea, is a concern. Report any side effects when they first appear.
LLS Research Spotlight
This is your connection to the latest in LLS Research. LLS-funded researchers are making strides toward new therapies and pathways to cures for blood cancers. We're highlighting some of these researchers with detailed summaries of their latest publications and success stories, designed to give you an idea of the latest happenings in blood cancer research.
A phase 1 study of CB-012, a CRISPR-edited allogeneic CAR-T targeting CLL1, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia
In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to "Support allogeneic CD371 (CLL-1) CAR development for acute myeloid leukemia." Caribou is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.
Caregiver Support
It's National Family Caregivers Month!We are giving away ten $50 gift cards to show our appreciation to caregivers this month.
The support a caregiver provides is an important part of a patient's care. We'd like to use this month to appreciate those who selflessly provide care and support to their loved ones. To enter our $50 Tango gift card sweepstakes (or submit on behalf of your caregiver), simply complete the form below by December 1st.
Myeloma
Is a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow. It is a cancer of plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells (also called plasma B cells). The disease belongs to a spectrum of disorders referred to as “plasma cell dyscrasias” or "plasma cell neoplasms", and has several forms.
A phase 1 study of CB-010, a CRISPR-edited allogeneic CAR-T targeting CD19, in patients with B-cell NHL
In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to support "A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of CB-010, a CRISPR-Edited Allogeneic Anti-CD19 CAR-T Cell Therapy in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma." Caribou is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.A phase 1 study of CB-011, a CRISPR-edited allogeneic CAR-T targeting BCMA, in patients with multiple myeloma
In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to support "A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of CB-011, a CRISPR-Edited Allogeneic Anti-BCMA CAR-T Cell Therapy in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma." Caribou is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.Lymphoma
Lymphoma is the name for a group of blood cancers that develop in the lymphatic system. The two main types are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are types of blood cancer that begin with an abnormal mutation (change) in a stem cell in the bone marrow. The change leads to an overproduction of any combination of white cells, red cells and platelets.
Marisa
Throughout my father’s journey, I was impressed by his care team, the advanced medicine used to treat blood cancer today, the individuals I met, people’s generosity, and the organizations I was introduced to. This journey opened my eyes to various organizations such as Be the Match and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Linda
My blood cancer story began in 2015 with a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It was scary, and there were so many unknowns. Today it’s 9½ years later, and I know a few more things about blood cancers.
First, today my cancer is undetectable! But as my doctors have told me, it’s chronic, so I’ll always have to be proactive and take medication.
LLS Researchers
Partnering for Cures – Our Unique Collaborations Span Continents