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January 3, 2005 |
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Top
Stories |
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Clinical
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Pharmaceutical
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Association
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Calendar |
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Job &
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Monthly Journal |
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eNews
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Tandem BMT Meetings
Feb 10 - 14, 2005
Keystone, Colorado |
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Calendar |
• January
Stem Cell Transplantation in Children: Current Results
and Controversies
Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Jan. 20-22
DoubleTree La Posada
Scottsdale, Arizona
• February
FDA and the New Paradigm for Tissue Regulation
Phama Conference and the University of Rhode Island College of
Pharmacy,
with the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
Feb. 1-3
Hyatt Regency Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Tandem BMT Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 10-14
Keystone Conference Center
Keystone, Colorado
• March
Inaugural Joint American-Israeli Conference on Cancer
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
March 16-18
Inbal Jerusalem Hotel
Jerusalem, Israel
American Society of Transplantation (AST)
and Canadian Society of Transplantation (CST)
9th Annual Winter Symposium
March 16-20
Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta
Eighth Cooley’s Anemia
Symposium
New York Academy of Sciences and Cooley’s Anemia Foundation
March 17-19
Hilton at Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, Florida
European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT)
31st Annual Meeting
March 20–23
Prague Congress Centre
Prague, Czech Republic
• April
Preservation of Cells, Tissues, and Gametes
Short Course
April 6-8
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
10th International Myeloma Workshop
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
April 10-14
Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Sydney, Australia
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
96th Annual Meeting
April 16-20
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California
American Society for Apheresis
26th Annual Meeting
April 27-30
Hyatt Regency Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
• May
Current Good Tissue Practice
Workshop preceding annual meeting of the International Society
for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
May 3-4
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Center
Vancouver, British Columbia
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
11th Annual Meeting
May 4-7
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Center
Vancouver, British Columbia
Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS)
5th Annual Conference
May 12-16
Boston, Massachusetts
American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPH/O)
18th Annual Meeting
May 14-16
Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel
Washington, D.C.
American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
41st Annual Meeting
May 14-17
Orlando, Florida
American Society of Transplantation (AST)
American Transplant Congress
May 20-25
Seattle, Washington
• June
3rd Annual International Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant
Symposium
California Blood Bank Society (CBBS), with the National Marrow
Donor Program (NMDP)
June 3-4
Hilton Los Angeles Airport
Los Angeles, California
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
3rd Annual Meeting
June 23-25
San Francisco Marriott
San Francisco, California
• July
Pan-Pacific Lymphoma Conference
University of Nebraska Medical Center
July 11-15
Hyatt Regency Kauai
Poipu, Hawaii
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation
(AA&MDSIF)
Patient & Family Conference
July 28-30
Denver Airport Marriott
Aurora, Colorado
International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH)
34th Annual Scientific Meeting
July 30-Aug. 2
Glasgow, Scotland
2006
Tandem BMT Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 8-12
Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii
2007
Tandem BMT Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 15-19
Keystone Conference Center
Keystone, Colorado
2008
Tandem BMT Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 13-17
Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Diego, CA
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Top
Stories |
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Stem cells from fat used to repair damaged skull
Surgeons in Germany have used stem cells derived from fat to
regenerate nearly 19 square inches of damaged skull in a
7-year-old girl. Doctors at the Justus-Liebig-University Medical
School in Giessen, Germany, recovered bone from the girl’s
pelvis, milled it into chips about 0.1 inch long, placed the
chips in the missing area of the skull, and added stem cells
extracted from fat tissue in her buttocks.  |
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Stress contributes to skin cancer
development in mice
Mice irradiated with ultraviolet B rays and then exposed to
stress 14 days later developed skin cancer after just eight
weeks, compared with 21 weeks for mice exposed to ultraviolet
rays alone. The report, published in the December issue of the
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, also showed that
35 percent of the stressed mice developed at least one tumor,
compared with 7 percent of the control mice. |
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Protein discovered that causes stem cells to
differentiate
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have
discovered a protein in mice that allows embryonic stem cells to
divide indefinitely while avoiding the duplication of
genetically damaged cells that can lead to cancer. The report,
published Dec. 26 in the online edition of the journal Nature Cell Biology, showed that this protein is activated by
DNA damage and suppresses a gene that is necessary for stem cell
self-renewal. |
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South Korea allowing human stem cell research
Effective Jan. 1, researchers in South Korea are able to use
fertilized eggs left over at fertility clinics to harvest stem
cells for research, as authorized by guidelines passed by the
South Korean cabinet. Scientists plan to use stem cell research
to find cures for 18 diseases, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s
disease, and cerebral palsy.
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Word from President Armand Keating, M.D.
I’m sure that over the years you’ve used algorithms to
solve problems. But have you ever helped construct an
algorithmic formula for others to use?
Let’s see if, together, we can create one that addresses
the challenge of measuring quality outcomes in
hematopoietic stem cell transplant programs. This
algorithm will be for use by transplant physicians.
1. For the first box of our algorithm, we’ll use the
statement, “Quality outcomes in hematopoietic
stem cell transplants (HSCT) are important,”
and we’ll allow the user to choose YES or NO.
2. If YES is selected, an arrow will point to the next
box that holds the statement, “Third-party payers for HSCT have an
obligation to know whether the therapies they reimburse
are achieving quality outcomes.” Again, we’ll permit
a YES or NO answer.
3. The YES response, if chosen, can have an arrow
pointing to a third box with the opinion, “Payers,
sooner or later, can be expected to devise measures of
quality outcomes for the purpose of differentiating
contracted HSCT facilities from other facilities.”
YES or NO.
4. The YES response will have an arrow leading to
a final box that presents the statement, “Medical
professionals who provide HSCT therapies are in the best
position to develop measures of quality.” YES
or NO.
Answer YES, and an arrow points to the
conclusion: “You have an opportunity to assume a
leadership role in defining quality outcomes that are
meaningful to you and your patients.”
Or, answer NO and the arrow points to an
alternative conclusion: “You risk all the hazards of
inactivity, including compliance with outcomes criteria
developed outside the HSCT community.”
In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the
development of criteria for measuring quality outcomes
is a thorny topic ... partly because our therapies are
used across a diversity of malignancies, inherited
diseases and bone marrow failure ... and partly because
of the dramatic variations in patient variables, such as
disease stage, co-morbidities and patient age. Also, the
relatively small number of patients at individual
transplant centers can make interpretation of outcomes
data a daunting statistical challenge.
All these issues factor into a session planned for the
Tandem BMT Meetings next month in Keystone, Colorado. In
recent years, our annual meeting has included a session
for BMT medical directors that takes up challenging
topics. This year, the topic will be the search for
definitions of quality outcomes and strategies for
assuming the leadership role that the arrows point to in
our algorithm.
The session begins at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13.
Although designed for BMT center medical directors, the
session is open to all interested registrants.
The chair for the session, Dr. Roy Jones, already has a
declared position: “It is my belief that we soon will be
required to report aggregate outcomes data to an
increasing variety of third-party and federal agencies.
I believe now is the time to begin planning for how we
will respond to those requests. If we leave the planning
until the requests are made, we lose the opportunity to
guide the nature and structure of such reporting.”
Roy treats patients at a large academic center. Other
panelists will be clinicians from a smaller community
center and a pediatric program. The session also will
have input representing the solid organ transplant
community, where outcomes reporting already is standard
procedure.
Hearing what these speakers have to say is half of what
the session is about. The other half is hearing from
you. You’ll want to come prepared to give your thoughts
about measuring outcomes of therapy and the strategies
and pathways for addressing this most important and
challenging issue.
– Cheers, Armand |
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Clinical
Research |
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Highlights of ASH meeting in San Diego
Among the headlines of the American Society of Hematology
annual meeting last month in San Diego were:
• An update on umbilical cord blood
transplantation
• “Tregs” may hold a key to GvHD
• New immunotherapy approaches may help in
myeloid leukemias
• Stroke Prevention II trial halted
• New treatments heralded for multiple
myeloma
Scientists stimulate stem cells to differentiate into red
blood cells
A technique that involves exposing hematopoietic stem cells
to stromal cells to provide an environment that mimics that of
bone marrow, then adding erythropoietin, signals the stem cells
to become red blood cells. According to a report published Dec.
26 in the online edition of the journal Nature Biotechnology,
this technique, develop in mice by researchers at the University
of Paris in France, could be applied in humans.
Scientists create embryonic stem cell-like cells from
neonatal mouse testes
Researchers at Kyoto University in Japan have established a
line of multipotent cells similar to stem cells using cultures
from neonatal mouse testes. According to a report published Dec.
29 in the online edition of the journal Cell, these cells
can transform into blood-forming cells, vascular cells and
beating heart muscle cells.
Inhibiting the Hedgehog pathway may not be effective
treatment for basal cell carcinoma
In mice, deactivating the Gli2 component of the Hedgehog
signaling pathway in basal cell carcinoma did not stop the
growth of all tumor cells, according to an advance online report
in the journal Genes & Development. In addition, once
Gli2 is reactivated, tumor growth sometimes resumes, indicating
not all tumors die when the pathway is interrupted.
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Pharmaceutical News |
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FDA approves therapy for severe oral mucositis
Based on a priority review, the FDA has approved Kepivance (palifermin)
for decreasing the incidence and duration of severe oral
mucositis in patients with hematologic cancers undergoing
high-dose therapy, with or without radiation, followed by a
blood stem cell transplant. Kepivance was shown to be safe and
well-tolerated in a Phase 3 study published in the Dec. 16 issue
of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Genzyme Corp. completes
acquisition of ILEX Oncology Inc.
Genzyme Corp. in Cambridge, Mass., has acquired cancer drug
developer ILEX Oncology Inc. in San Antonio, Texas, in a
stock-for-stock deal valued at $1 billion. ILEX’s products
include Campath for treating B-cell chronic lymphocytic
leukemia, and clofarabine, which is nearing FDA approval.
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Association
News |
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Agencies coordinate bioterrorism emergency response
ASBMT convened a meeting of representatives of public sector
agencies and health professional associations for coordination
in the event of a bioterrorist strike involving radiological or
nuclear mass casualties. The meeting, held during last month’s
American Society of Hematology convention in San Diego,
considered the role, capabilities and responsibilities of each
participating organization and agency and decided on several
next steps for joint planning.
Today is the housing deadline for Keystone
The housing deadline is today for the 2005 Tandem BMT Meetings
in Keystone, Colo. Registration and housing information are
available on the ASBMT Web site, or click the link below. Some
categories of housing already are full as pre-registration
indicates another year of record attendance. After today,
special group rates will be honored, but on a space-available
basis. Remember that most of the housing at Keystone is rented
condominiums. Meeting registrants often achieve savings by
jointly reserving two-, three- and four-bedroom units.
ASBMT voices strong support for embryonic stem cell research
The ASBMT Board of Directors has adopted policy strongly
supporting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
“The advantages and limitations of these cells are poorly
understood, and their therapeutic role compared with adult stem
cells, which have been studied in greater detail, is unknown,”
the Society policy statement said.
Deadline for annual mail ballot is Jan. 14
Ballots have been mailed to ASBMT members for the annual
election of officers and directors. As customary, at least two
candidates have been nominated for each open position, which
this year are vice president and three directors. Ballots must
be received in the ASBMT Executive Office by the close of
business on Jan. 14.
86 applicants accepted for membership in December
The largest-ever class of applicants was brought into ASBMT
membership when the Board of Directors met last month in San
Diego. Included were 13 members, two associate members, 16
affiliate members and 55 in-training members -- bringing the
Society’s total enrollment to 1,155. Effective Jan. 1 this year,
dues have been reduced by $50 in the member, associate and
affiliate categories. The society’s membership application is
online at the ASBMT Web site.
Free ASBMT membership for trainees
Post-doctoral fellows and physicians-in-training for blood and
marrow transplantation are eligible for free ASBMT membership.
The annual dues are being waived for trainees who apply for
membership in the Society, a program made possible by a grant
from ESP Pharma.
Medical directors to consider quality outcomes measurements
The annual conference of BMT medical directors is scheduled
for 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 13, during the 2005 Tandem BMT
Meetings in Keystone, Colo. The topic this year will be
strategies for measuring quality of treatment outcomes in
transplant programs. Panelists will include representatives of
academic and community-based transplant programs, both adult and
pediatric. The program is open to all Tandem BMT Meeting
registrants.
Panel will examine FDA’s new ‘Good Tissue Practice’ rule
The Food and Drug Administration’s recently published Good
Tissue Practice rule will be the focus of an intensive one-hour
examination from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 13, at the 2005 Tandem
BMT Meetings in Keystone, Colo. Richard Champlin, M.D., will
moderate a panel that includes representatives of FDA staff and
BMT laboratory and clinical practice.
Record number of symposia scheduled for Keystone
A record 14 satellite symposia will be held in conjunction with
the 2005 Tandem BMT Meetings, Feb. 10-14, in Keystone, Colo. A
list of the symposia, dates and sponsors is online.
Travel grants announced for Tandem BMT Meetings
The ASBMT Board of Directors has awarded 31 travel grants of
$1,000 each to the young investigators invited to give oral
presentations at the 2005 Tandem BMT Meetings. This year, 31 of
the 57 oral abstracts will be presented by young investigators
-- those not more than five years past an M.D. or PhD degree.
Special session for trainees at Tandem BMT Meetings
A workshop for physicians-in-training and post-doctoral
fellows in blood and marrow transplantation will be held on the
first day at the 2005 Tandem BMT Meetings in Keystone, Colo. The
first part of the workshop will be a “user’s guide” for trainees
attending the meetings for the first time. Recommendations will
be offered on which sessions to attend, how to participate and
what to take away from the sessions. The workshop will also
include small-group discussions with senior transplanters on
career opportunities and alternatives. The session is scheduled
for 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 10.
First joint American-Israeli conference on cancer
ASBMT is a co-sponsor of the inaugural Joint
American-Israeli Conference on Cancer that will be held March
16-18 in Jerusalem. The conference is being organized by the
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. The
deadline for abstracts is Jan. 15.
12 new appointments to Editorial Board
The ASBMT Board of Directors has appointed 12 new members to
the Editorial Board for Biology of Blood and Marrow
Transplantation, replacing a similar number of retiring
board members. Announcing the new board members was
Editor-in-Chief Robert Korngold, Ph.D.
BBMT features study of cytokines and engraftment
This month’s issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow
Transplantation presents a study of cytokines and cytotoxic
pathways in engraftment resistance to purified allogeneic
hematopietic stem cells (HSC). Christian Scheffold, M.D., and
colleagues at Stanford University School of Medicine show in
mouse research that elimination of selected cytokines does not
alter allogeneic hematopoietic resistance. The chimerism data
reinforce the importance of competition for HSC niches in
conjunction with immune mechanisms on resistance to long-term
HSC engraftment.
Aid for humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia
Many organizations are mobilizing to provide emergency
assistance to victims of the earthquake and tsunami that has
devastated parts of Southeast Asia. The American Institute of
Philanthropy, a charity watchdog, rates nonprofit groups with a
letter grade of A+ to F. Eight of the relief organizations
providing aid to Southeast Asia victims have earned an “A” or
“A+” grade, based on the portion of their budget going to
program services and their fundraising efficiency.
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