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September
1, 2005 |
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you are unable to view these articles or access the links,
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Top
Stories |
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Legislation and Regulation |
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Clinical
Research |
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Pharmaceutical News |
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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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confident are you in your emergency procedures and crisis plan if your
transplant center had 24-36 hours to get ready for a natural disaster
such as Hurricane Katrina? |
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Last Month's Poll Results |
Do you feel
that a better grading system is needed for
chronic and acute GvHD?
The opinions were unanimous.
Everyone answered “yes.” |
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Calendar |
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• September
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA)
33rd Annual Convention
Sept. 7-10
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel
Baltimore, Maryland
American Society of Transplantation (AST)
Clinical Trial Symposium: Optimizing Clinical Research in
Transplantation
Sept. 9-10
Sofitel Hotel Chicago O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois
Targeted and Tailored Therapies in Hematology/Oncology
Loyola University Health Systems
Sept. 10
Renaissance Chicago Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
Cardiac Cell Therapy Workshop
Workshop preceding the 5th Annual Somatic Cell Therapy Symposium
Sept. 15-16
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, Maryland
5th Annual Somatic Cell Therapy Symposium
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
with AABB and the FDA
Sept. 15-18
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, Maryland
8th Biennial Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell
Transplantation Conference
Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sept. 15-18
The Ritz-Carlton
Half Moon Bay, California
International Society of Paediatric Oncology (ISPO)
37th Congress
Sept. 21-24
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Advances in Breast Cancer Research: Genetics, Biology and
Clinical Applications
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Sept. 21-25
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
La Jolla, California
American Society of Multicultural Health and Transplant
Professionals (ASMHTP)
13th Annual Conference
Sept. 22-24
Hotel Nikko
San Francisco, California
• October
International Symposium on Cellular Therapy for Treatment of
Autoimmune Disease
City of Hope National Medical Center
Oct. 5-7
Newport Beach Hyatt Hotel
Newport Beach, California
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
58th Annual Meeting
Oct. 15-18
Seattle Convention Center
Seattle, Washington
Bone Marrow Failure Scientific Symposium
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation
with NCI and NIH Office of Rare Diseases
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
Annual International Cytokine Conference
Lotte Hotel Jamsil
Seoul, Korea
European Society of Gene Therapy (ESGT)
13th Annual Meeting
Oct 29-Nov. 1
Hotel Hilton Progue
Prague, Czech Republic
International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention
Research
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Oct. 30-Nov. 2
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, Maryland
• November
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
18th Annual Council Meeting
Nov. 4-6
Hilton Minneapolis Hotel
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Anti-Angiogenesis and Drug Delivery to Tumors: Bench to
Bedside and Back
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Nov. 9-13
The Westin Waltham-Boston
Waltham-Boston, Massachusetts
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in the 21st Century
3rd European School of Hematology International Conference
Nov. 11-13
Cotone Congress Center
Genoa, Italy
International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer
Therapeutics: Discovery, Biology and Clinical Applications
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Nov. 14-18
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cancer, Proteases, and the Tumor Microenvironment
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Nov. 30-Dec. 4
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
Bonita Springs, Florida
2006
BMT Tandem Meetings
(Combined ASBMT and CIBMTR annual meetings)
Feb. 16-20
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, California
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Top
Stories |
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Scientists kill cancer cells with radiation,
save healthy tissue
In laboratory tests, scientists at Melbourne’s Peter
MacCallum Cancer Center have developed a technique for killing
cancer cells with radiation without affecting healthy tissue.
The process uses antibodies and DNA attached to a radioactive
atom, and scientists hope to begin clinical trials within five
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Higher PSA levels in young men associated with later cancer risk
Higher levels of prostate specific antigen in young men are
associated with a greater risk of developing prostate cancer
later in life, according to a report published in the September
issue of the Journal of Urology. Among the men, who had
an average age of 34, risks of developing prostate cancer were
4.4 times greater in black men and 3.5 times higher for white
men than those with the lowest level of PSA.
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Cells similar to stem cells grown using NASA
technology
Using microgravity technology from NASA, researchers have
been able to grow cells from umbilical cord blood that appear to
be very similar to human embryonic stem cells. According to a
report published in the August issue of the journal Cell
Proliferation, culturing at microgravity allows the cells to
grow much quicker and in three dimensions, and they can be
produced in numbers large enough for treatment. |
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Malignant cells in marrow point to poor
prognosis for breast cancer
Traces of malignant cells in the bone marrow of women
suffering from breast cancer are a significant indicator of poor
prognosis, according to a study published in the Aug. 25 issue
of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers
collected data on more than 4,700 women with invasive breast
cancer and found this “micrometastasis” in 30.6 percent.
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Word from President Nelson Chao, M.D.
Occasionally in our economy, the “forces for good” all
line up in a row. It’s when the gross national product is
expanding, inflation is low, employment opportunities are
growing and real wages are increasing. Economists
sometimes call that the “sweet spot.”
You might say that ASBMT is in a sweet spot where the
numbers, member opinions and programs are all moving
upward in unison. Let me explain.
Measurement by the numbers. Your Society has
achieved consistent membership growth, averaging 9 percent
per year for the past seven years -- nearly doubling the
organization’s size.
Revenues for that same period have expanded at an
annualized rate of 66 percent, so that current income is
more than 10 times what it was seven years ago.
The Society’s leaders have invested most of that income in
our journal, annual meeting and other programs that
benefit our field and the patients we serve. But they also
have been careful to achieve a budget surplus averaging 4
percent per year. This has enabled the Society’s financial
reserves to grow nearly five-fold.
A tangible result of these consistently favorable trends
in revenues and reserves was the $50 reduction in member
dues this year. Do you belong to any other organization
that has reduced its member dues?
Measurement by member opinion. In June this year
you were invited to participate in an online opinion
survey about the Society, its programs and future
directions. Several hundred of you completed the survey.
You told us that you like the Society’s annual meeting,
with 96 percent rating the BMT Tandem Meetings as very
good or good. Almost as many –- 91 percent -- said that the
mix of basic and clinical science was right. (Proving
again that everyone can’t be pleased, 6 percent said the
meeting has too much basic science, and 3 percent said it
has too much clinical science.)
You like the Society’s journal, Biology of Blood and
Marrow Transplantation. Only Blood scored
higher in terms of content and relevance to your practice
or research. In the last survey of members four years ago,
you placed our journal fourth behind the New England
Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Clinical
Oncology, as well as Blood.
Measurement by programs. The Society is pressing
forward with important programs on many levels -- from
maintenance of guidelines and standards, to support of
transplant program accreditation, to research fellowships
and grants, to representing our field among legislators,
regulators and payers.
Just last month new evidence-based reviews for adult and
pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia were approved for
publication, and this month we are announcing a couple of
new research awards for young investigators. The Society
has always focused, and will continue to focus, on young
investigators.
Does this talk about a “sweet spot” sound like it’s time
to take some bows? I hope not.
I recently returned from a Board of Directors planning
retreat, and I wish you could have been there. I don’t
think I’ve ever seen ideas fresher, optimism higher,
courage to lead stronger or convictions firmer.
The ride so far has been exhilarating, but there’s open
road ahead and your Board of Directors is stepping on the
accelerator. If your seatbelt isn’t fastened, now would be
a good time.
– Nelson |
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Legislation and Regulation |
HRSA seeks advice on national cord blood program
A proposed approach to a national cord blood stem cell bank
program has been offered by the Health Resources and Services
Administration, along with a request for comments and
recommendations. The deadline is Sept. 12.
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Clinical Research |
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Cancer-killing compound crosses blood-brain barrier in mice
A cancer-killing compound called JV-1-36 can cross the
blood-brain barrier in mice, giving hope for a pharmacological
treatment for brain cancer. According to a study published in
the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences, the compound attacks a hormone that causes the
release of hypothalamic growth hormone, which has been found to
cause cancerous tumors.
Scientists discover way to fuse adult skin cells with
embryonic stem cells
Harvard scientists have discovered a method to fuse adult
skin cells with embryonic stem cells, and the fused cell was
reprogrammed to its earlier state. According to a study
published on the Web site of the journal Science,
researchers said the hybrid cells had the appearance, growth
rate, and several key genetic characteristics of human embryonic
cells.
Compound shrinks tumors by 90 percent
A compound called OGT2378 shrinks tumors in mice by 90
percent, according to a report at the American Chemical Society
annual meeting. This compound, a carbohydrate already used in
metabolic disease drugs, appears to block enzymes that cancer
cells need to create gangliosides.
Relative of celecoxib proves to be potent tumor fighter
Dimethyl-celecoxib, an analog of the cyclooxygenase-2
(COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib, halts tumor growth even in
drug-resistant lines of multiple myeloma, according to a study
in the online version of the journal Blood. The drug
differs from celecoxib in that it lacks the ability to block the
activity of COX-2, an enzyme integral to the inflammatory
process.
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Pharmaceutical News |
Colon cancer drug submitted for treating head and neck cancer
ImClone Systems Inc. is seeking regulatory approval for use
of the colon cancer drug Erbitux to treat squamous cell cancer
of the head and neck. In June, an independent panel verified
results from a clinical trial that showed Erbitux used in
combination with radiation was more effective in checking the
spread of cancerous tumors beyond the head and neck than
radiation alone.
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Association
News |
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Register online for the 2006 BMT Tandem Meetings in Honolulu
Online registration and housing reservations are open for the
2006 BMT Tandem Meetings that will be held Feb. 16-20 in
Honolulu. On a single Web page, registrants can navigate to
meeting registration, housing reservations, preliminary program,
abstract submission, travel discounts and local tours.
Information also is provided that compares the cost of travel
and lodging for Hawaii versus other convention locations.
Abstract submission deadline is Oct. 3 for Hawaii meeting
Abstracts for the BMT Tandem Meetings in Honolulu will be
accepted through Oct. 3. Invitations for oral presentation will
be offered to about 60 authors whose abstracts receive the
highest scores from the review committees. ASBMT will provide
travel grants of $1,000 each to young investigators whose
abstracts are accepted for oral presentation.
Research award announced for young investigators
ASBMT and Astellas Pharma US, Inc., have announced a
$25,000-per-year award for new investigators. The deadline is
Dec. 1.
New investigators eligible for $5,000 editorial awards
Each year, ASBMT presents two editorial awards to new
investigators published in Biology of Blood and Marrow
Transplantation, the Society’s monthly peer-reviewed
journal. The awards recognize the best basic science and the
best clinical research articles.
BBMT introduces enhanced Web site
The ASBMT journal, Biology of Blood and Marrow
Transplantation, has an improved Web site. The URL remains
the same, but the appearance and functionality have been
updated.
Hurricane Katrina delays
delivery of some journals
The September issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow
Transplantation is in the mail, except to areas severely damaged
by Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. Postal Service announced
yesterday that it will not be accepting standard mail or
periodicals for delivery to ZIP codes beginning with the
following three digits: 700, 701, 704, 369, 393, 394, 395 and
396. Included are New Orleans and Mandeville, La., and Meridian,
Hattiesburg, Gulfport and McComb, Miss. Journal issues to
members and subscribers in the affected region are being held
back and will be sent when postal services are restored.
Manipulating and visualizing T-cell alloresponses
Bruce Blazar, M.D., of the University of Minnesota presented
the E. Donnall Thomas Lecture at this year’s BMT Tandem Meetings
in Keystone. He shared the results of more than 10 years of
studies in regulating alloresponses, illustrating the role of
positive and negative T-cell costimulatory pathways in GvHD, the
GvHD effects of CD4+/CD25+ regulatory T-cells and the use of
imaging to visualize the fate of host anti-donor responses
resulting in engraftment or graft rejection. The lecture is
reprinted in this month’s issue of Biology of Blood and
Marrow Transplantation.
CME audioconference provides update on MDS
H. Joachim Deeg, M.D., of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center will examine emerging data in MDS and discuss
current treatment strategies, including transplantation, in a
live CME audioconference on Sept 21. “Myelodysplastic Syndrome:
Making Treatment Decisions in an Evolving Field” is sponsored by
the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), the Center for
International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) and
the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Evidence-based reviews on adult and pediatric ALL
The ASBMT Steering Committee on Evidence-Based Reviews and
an expert panel chaired by Donna Wall, M.D., of Texas Transplant
Institute, San Antonio, have completed work on two new reviews
on adult and pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The
reviews will be published later this year in Biology of Blood
and Marrow Transplantation.
Major enhancements added to online job and fellowship banks
Significant upgrades have been announced for the Job
Connection and the Fellowship Connection that are
located on the ASBMT Web site. Among them is a new “Job Alert”
system that sends an e-mail when a newly posted job or
fellowship matches pre-determined search criteria -- especially
useful for those who are only passively seeking new
opportunities.
ASBMT monthly poll: crisis plan
How confident are you in your emergency procedures and
crisis plan if your transplant center had 24-36 hours to get
ready for a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina? Register
your opinion in this month’s reader poll.
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