Screening/Prevention
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.
Being Overweight Associated with Increased Risk of Several Cancers
(02/19/2008)
Excess bodyweight increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, according to results recently published in The Lancet.
Vitamins During Pregnancy Decrease Childhood Cancer Risk
(02/23/2007)
According to an early online publication in the journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, children of mothers who take vitamins during pregnancy have a decreased risk of pediatric brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and leukemia.
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.
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.
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Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia
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).
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). The approval is based on data indicating that, for patients with CLL, Treanda improved overall response and complete response rates as well as progression-free survival rates compared with the commonly used agent chlorambucil.
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.
Fludara® Not Superior to Chlorambucil for Elderly with CLL
(05/12/2008)
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.
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.
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Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Atovaquone Effectively Prevents Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia in Children
(07/20/2007)
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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Acute Myeloid Leukemia
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.
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.
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 cancer relapse; female gender; genetics indicating a less aggressive type of cancer; and no detectable cancer (remission) at the time of DLI.
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Effective for Younger Patients with Poor-prognosis AML
(07/11/2007)
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.
Atovaquone Effectively Prevents Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia in Children
(07/20/2007)
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.
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Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Advances in the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
(01/21/2008)
A Report from the 2007 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting
Supportive Care and Hematologic Malignancies
(01/21/2008)
A Report from the 2007 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting
Tasigna® Approved for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
(11/07/2007)
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).
Updates in the Management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML): A Report from ASCO 2007
(10/12/2007)
At the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) it was apparent that there is steady progress in the development and testing of second generation kinase inhibitors, which could ultimately have a major impact on the treatment of CML.
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).
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Hairy Cell Leukemia
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.
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).
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.
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.
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 disease.
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