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April
1, 2005 |
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Top
Stories |
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Legislation and Regulation |
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Clinical
Research |
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Association
News |
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Calendar |
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Job &
Fellowship Connections |
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Monthly Journal |
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eNews
Archives |
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BMT Tandem
Meetings
Feb. 16-20, 2006
Honolulu, Hawaii |
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Calendar |
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• 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
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK)
“Ask the Experts” BMT Educational Forum
April 16
Livonia Civic Center Library
Livonia, Michigan
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
96th Annual Meeting
April 16-20
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California
American Society for Apheresis (ASA)
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, Canada
Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS)
5th Annual Conference
May 12-16
Westin Copley Place
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
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
American Society of Transplantation (AST)
American Transplant Congress
May 20-25
Washington State Convention & Trade Center
Seattle, Washington
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK),
with support from ASBMT
“Ask the Experts” BMT Educational Forum
May 21
Lighthouse International Conference Center
New York, New York
• 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
Chronic GvHD: The Next Frontier in Transplantation Research
NIH Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical
Trials in Chronic Graft-vs.-Host Disease
June 6
Marriott Bethesda North Conference Center
Bethesda, Maryland
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
Society for Cryobiology
Cryo 2005, 42nd Meeting
July 24-27
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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
• October
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
58th Annual Meeting
Oct. 15-18
Seattle Convention Center
Seattle, Washington
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation
with NCI and NIH Office of Rare Diseases
Bone Marrow Failure Scientific Symposium
Oct. 17-19
Loews L’Enfant Plaza Hotel
Washington, D.C.
American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI)
31th Annual Meeting
Oct. 17-21
Hilton Washington Hotel
Washington, D.C.
International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research (ISICR)
Annual Meeting
Oct. 20-24
Shanghai International Everbright Convention Center
Shanghai, China
International Cytokine Society (ICS)
Oct. 27-31
Lotte Hotel Jamsil
Seoul, Korea
European Society of Gene Therapy (ESGT)
13th Annual Meeting
Oct. 29-Nov. 1
Tampere Hall Congress Center
Prague, Czech Republic
2006
BMT Tandem Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 15-19
Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii
2007
BMT Tandem Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 8-12
Keystone Conference Center
Keystone, Colorado
2008
BMT Tandem 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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Researchers identify gene mutation for three myeloproliferative
disorders
Using blood and tissue samples collected via the Internet,
researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute identified a gene mutation that causes three
related kinds of bone marrow cancer. According to a report
published in the April issue of the journal Cancer Cell,
scientists discovered a mutation in the tyrosine kinase gene
from analyzing 345 blood DNA samples and cheek tissue from
patients with myeloproliferative disorders.  |
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Risk factors explain many racial patterns
in breast cancer
Risk factors can help explain the differences in breast
cancer rates among racial and ethnic groups, according to a
report in the March 16 issue of the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute. Researchers determined that racial
differences remain significant only for Africa-American women
after adjusting for risk factors such as age, number of close
relatives with breast cancer, prior biopsy for benign breast
disease, and age at first menstruation, at first birth and at
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Scientists propose extensive cancer genome project
Scientists presented a proposal to a National Cancer
Institute committee to create a complete catalog of genetic
anomalies characteristic of cancer. The goal of the $1.35
billion project is to establish the DNA sequence in at least
12,500 samples of tumors: 250 genetic maps for each of the 50
most common types of cancers.
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South Korea and Sweden plan closer
collaboration on stem cell research
South Korea and Sweden have agreed to commit more strongly
to cooperation in the science and technology sector, especially
in the area of stem cell research. The two countries agreed to
strictly ban human cloning and focus on promoting research into
cures for disorders such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease and
other maladies.
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Word from President Nelson Chao, M.D.
What percentage of the allogeneic stem cell transplants in
the United States last year do you think were cord blood?
Three percent? Six percent? As high as 10 percent?
No one has the exact count. But the National Marrow Donor
Program, involved in the lion’s share of the unrelated
donor searches, reports that more than 2,600 transplants
were done last year in the United States, and about 600 of
them were cord blood.
Do the math and you arrive at 23 percent. Reports from
abroad suggest that the percentage internationally is even
higher.
We have come a long distance since the first umbilical
cord blood transplant from an HLA-identical sibling was
reported in the literature in 1989 by Gluckman, Broxmeyer
and Auerbach. The advantages of cord blood are
increasingly clear: Less stringent HLA matching
requirements; lower incidence and severity of GvHD; lower
risk of viral contamination; more immediate availability.
There also are well-known limitations: A smaller number of
cells per unit. Somewhat longer time for engraftment. No
possibility of a second donation from the same source if
engraftment fails or the recipient relapses. Limited
genetic history. But all of these issues are being
addressed, with encouraging news arriving almost every
month.
The potential for cord blood exists not only for
hematopoietic transplantation, but also for regenerative
medicine and research.
In a few days, we are expecting an important report from
the Institute of Medicine on the status of existing cord
blood programs and inventories, and recommendations for
enhancing the collection, banking and distribution of cord
blood units. The evidence-based study and report was
requested last year by the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) in connection with a $10 million
appropriation by Congress.
The IOM was asked to address issues such as:
• The status of cord blood banks already in existence.
• The best structure for a national cord blood program.
• How to advance the use of cord blood through effective
collection procedures, storage standards, information
sharing, distribution and treatment outcome measures.
• How to make cord blood units readily available for
research.
ASBMT leaders recently looked at one important dimension
of these issues: The principles upon which to build a
national -- preferably an international -- registry of
cord blood units. The Society believes that patients and
transplant clinicians can best be served by an
international, centralized registry that provides a
seamless, economical means for finding and obtaining
matched donor cells.
In all there are 10 principles that have been adopted by
the Society for the development of a centralized registry.
The complete policy is
posted on
the ASBMT Web site.
Advances in cord blood transplants are coming at an
ever-increasing pace. As the numbers and quality of
registered cord blood units increase, the matching and the
clinical results will improve as well. The IOM report is
likely to have a dramatic and far-reaching impact on our
field for years to come.
– Nelson |
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Legislation and Regulation |
Maryland bill provides funding for embryonic stem cell
research
Maryland’s House of Delegates has approved legislation that
would provide about $25 million a year in state funds for
research performed in the state on embryonic stem cells. The
bill, which is now being voted on by the Senate, would set aside
part of the money Maryland gets from tobacco companies for
research on embryos left over from fertility treatments.
Massachusetts Senate voting on bill to support embryonic
stem cell research
Massachusetts senators have unveiled a bill designed to
support embryonic stem cell research, with the requirement that
scientists conducting certain cutting-edge research obtain
licenses from the Department of Public Health. The bill would
set fines as high as $1 million for those who violate new state
rules governing stem cell work. The bill must pass the Senate
and House by a two-thirds majority to override an expected veto
from the governor.
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Clinical
Research |
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Positive results bring early end to Herceptin clinical
trials
When combined with chemotherapy and used before surgery in
early stage breast cancer, Herceptin eliminated 42 percent more
tumors than chemotherapy alone, according to researchers at the
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. According to a
report in the April 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical
Oncology, this result brought an early halt to clinical
trial testing of this new treatment plan.
Compounds in grapes and red wine could stop the spread of
cancer
Some flavonoids in grapes and red wine work synergistically
against an enzyme, known as human DNA topoisomerase II, that is
necessary for the spread of cancer. According to a report
published in the March 1 issue of The Journal of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry, scientists discovered a dozen new
constituents in grape cell culture extracts.
New method to culture stem cells may avoid contamination
problems
Laboratory culture media enriched by a human protein called
activin A can maintain human embryonic stem cells in a
continuous undifferentiated state, ready to be used for
research. According to a report in the April issue of the
journal Stem Cells, researchers at the University of
California, San Diego, found this method avoids the use of
animal or human feeder layers, and the possible contamination
that could result.
Stem cells in hair follicles develop into nerve, skin,
muscle cells
Stem cells found in hair follicles can develop into nerve
cells, according to a study published in March 31 issue of
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers
found that stem cells taken from the follicles of mouse whiskers
matured into neurons and other neural cells, as well as into
skin cells, smooth muscle cells and pigment-producing cells.
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Association
News |
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ASBMT adopts policy on cord blood registries
A single, integrated system is preferred for registering units
of umbilical cord blood, according to policy adopted by ASBMT
leaders. Based on 10 principals, the new policy anticipates a
report from the Institute of Medicine on establishing a national
cord blood stem cell program.
Committee will address quality in clinical outcomes
A task force will propose methods by which ASBMT and the
Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) could
develop measurements of quality in treatment outcomes in
hematopoietic stem cell transplant programs. Appointed by the
ASBMT Executive Committee, the panel will be chaired by Dr.
Claudio Anasetti and includes Drs. John DiPersio, Roy Jones and
Samuel Silver. The quality assessment initiative is based on
recommendations from the BMT Center Medical Directors Conference
that looked at the status of measurements of quality in clinical
outcomes in February in Keystone, Colo.
BBMT explores quality in a transplant program
Methods for defining quality in a hematopoietic stem cell
transplant program remain elusive, but indicators do exist,
according to Drs. C. Fred LeMaistre and Fausto Loberiza, Jr., in
an article in this month’s issue of Biology of Blood and
Marrow Transplantation. The authors maintain that BMT
clinicians have a leadership role to play in research that
defines quality.
International memberships invited at EBMT
More than 250 copies of Biology of Blood and Marrow
Transplantation and 150 membership applications were
distributed from an ASBMT exhibit booth at the annual meeting of
the European Group on Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in
March in Prague. Five physicians submitted applications, along
with a dues payment, on the spot. The exhibit booth was part of
a campaign to welcome international members and to publicize the
recently reduced annual dues of $175 (about 135 euros), which
includes a subscription to BBMT. A membership application
can be downloaded from the ASBMT Web site.
NIH consensus conference on clinical trials for cGvHD
A one-day consensus development conference will bring
together clinical researchers, industry, academia, patients and
government agencies to discuss criteria for clinical trials in
chronic graft-vs.-host disease. The conference, scheduled for
June 6 in Bethesda, Md., will be the culmination of a year-long
effort by the hematology-oncology transplantation community and
related medical subspecialties to create guidelines that allow
rapid conduct of clinical trials in chronic GvHD.
Audiocassettes available for Keystone presentations
Plenary and concurrent scientific sessions, workshops and
oral abstracts from the Tandem BMT Meetings are available on
audiocassette -- along with the recorded conferences of the
transplant nurses, BMT pharmacists, clinical research associates
and BMT center administrators. The programs can be purchased
online.
Tandem BMT Meetings abstracts can be viewed online
Abstracts submitted by investigators in 33 countries were
presented at the Tandem BMT Meetings in Keystone, Colo. All
abstracts are published in the February 2005 issue of Biology
of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (Vol. 11, No. 2,
Supplement 1), and also are posted online.
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.
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