BMT Tandem Meetings
Feb. 13-17, 2008
San Diego, California

 Policy update announced for Medicare coverage in clinical trials
CMS has announced a revision of its National Coverage Determination, the agency’s policy on Medicare coverage when beneficiaries participate in clinical trials. Benefits for patient services will continue to be reimbursed if they qualify for Medicare coverage outside of a clinical trial or are required under FDA post-approval and “coverage with evidence development” studies.

 Medicare tightens reimbursement for anemia drugs
CMS issued final reimbursement rules on Monday that tighten usage and dosing allowances for erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs, due to concerns over their safety and potential overuse. But the rules are significantly less stringent that what the agency had originally proposed. 

 Bush threatens veto of House-approved health spending bill
The House of Representatives voted 276-140 to approve a $607 billion FY 2008 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill that provides NIH with a $750 million increase (2.6%). However, the effective NIH program increase would be $549 million (1.9%) because the agency would be required to transfer $201 million of the increase to the Global AIDS fund. The bill includes $15 million for the National Cord Blood Inventory and more than $25 million for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program. President Bush has threatened a veto because of the overall cost and "objectionable provisions" such as a measure to ban the use of childhood flu vaccines that contain thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.

 Massachusetts seeks to create stem cell bank for research
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick filed a bill in mid-July to create the world’s largest stem cell bank for research. The bill calls for a 10-year investment of $1 billion dollars in life sciences, including $500 million to create the Massachusetts stem cell bank.

 Allogeneic stem cell transplants linked to back fractures
A Finnish study points to allogeneic stem cell transplantation as the source of bone thinning and crushed vertebrae for children and adolescents. More than one-third in the study developed thinning bones, and one in five experienced crushed vertebrae. Forty-four children with stem cell transplantation when they were 10 years old were monitored for eight years. 

  Enzyme disruption destroys antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Researchers have shown they can kill antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacteria by blocking the enzyme DNA relaxase and, as a result, disrupting conjugation of the bacteria. According to a report in the July 24 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, blocking the enzyme, which allows the bacteria to pass genetic material back and forth, triggered selective death of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria.  

  Fat cells turned into cancer fighting agent
Working in mice, researchers have derived mesenchymal stem cells from human fat tissue and engineered them to destroy cancer cells, according to a report in the July 1 issue of Cancer Research. Researchers inserted the gene cytosine deaminase into the cell, which can convert a less toxic drug, 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The chemotherapy agent can then seep into the tumor, inhibiting tumor growth by up to 68.5 percent. 

  Red blood cell substitute may have potential for sickle cell
University of Toronto investigators set out to determine the potential for a newly developed hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier called HRC 101 to treat sickle cell disease. A mouse study indicates that the red blood cell substitute based on human hemoglobin significantly improved survival in mice with "sickled" red blood cells exposed to low-oxygen conditions. Study results appear in the August edition of the journal Anesthesiology.  

  Researchers propose to develop soft tissue from stem cells
Columbia University Medical Center researchers received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to develop a process for using stem cells to develop tissue for facial reconstruction. The Columbia research team aims to create long-lasting soft tissue implants from mesenchymal stem cells harvested from the patient’s own bone marrow or adipose tissue.

  Test approved to detect breast cancer metastasis
The FDA has approved Veridex’s GeneSearch BLN Assay, the first molecular-based laboratory test for detecting whether breast cancer has metastasized to nearby lymph nodes. In a clinical trial, the test accurately predicted that breast cancer had spread nearly 88 percent of the time in women with metastasis. Patients without metastasis were identified accurately 94 percent of the time. 

 New vial introduced for IV Busulfex
PDL BioPharma has announced that IV Busulfex is now available in a single-use clear glass 10-mL vial to ease preparation, use less storage space and have a longer shelf life. 

  Registration opens for 2008 BMT Tandem Meetings in San Diego
Online registration and housing opens today for the 2008 BMT Tandem Meetings Feb. 13-17 in San Diego, Calif. On a single Web page, registrants can navigate to meeting registration, housing reservations, preliminary program, abstract submission and parallel conferences.


  Abstract submission deadline is Oct. 8 for San Diego meeting
Abstracts for the BMT Tandem Meetings in San Diego are being accepted through Oct. 8. Invitations for oral presentation will be offered to about 75 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. 

  Required reporting of transplant outcomes is delayed
Required reporting of transplant outcomes for the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program has been postponed to later this year. Initially scheduled for introduction last month, the electronic systems are being fine-tuned by CIBMTR for smooth transition by transplant centers. A new launch date will be announced shortly. 

  Contingency planning for radiological emergencies
A one-day conference will address ways that BMT personnel and centers can prepare for radiological/nuclear emergencies. Developed by the NMDP and ASBMT, the conference will be held Sept. 25 in Bethesda, Md. 

  Keystone CD in mail to members and meeting registrants
The plenary and concurrent presentations at the 2007 BMT Tandem Meetings are on a CD that is in the mail to all ASBMT members and registrants for the meetings held this past February in Keystone. The disk contains nearly 30 hours of synchronized audio and PowerPoint presentations, plus a video introduction by scientific program co-chairs, Drs. Helen Heslop and John Barrett. The CD production and distribution is supported by a grant from Schering-Plough Corporation.

  News weekly recognizes value of FACT accreditation
FACT accreditation now helps propel hospitals and medical centers onto the “America’s Best Hospitals” list, published annually by U.S. News & World Report. The news magazine has begun awarding points to hospitals that have BMT programs that meet the standards of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. 

  152 transplant facilities now FACT accredited
During the second quarter of 2007, one blood and marrow transplant program achieved first-time FACT accreditation and nine others earned accreditation renewals, according to the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. A total of 152 transplant centers are now FACT accredited. 

  Cord blood conference to be in October in Paris
An international conference on umbilical cord blood transplants will be held in Oct. 19-21 in Paris. Three days of sessions will include stem cells from cord blood, mesenchymal cells, non-hematopoietic stem cells, ex-vivo expansion, graft facilitation and homing and cord blood banking.


  Review examines transplants for multiple myeloma
A review in the August issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation evaluates myeloablative allogeneic transplantation for multiple myeloma. Newer and better induction regimens, rigorous analysis of results with autologous and allogeneic transplantation, and the development of risk-adapted stratification provided the impetus for the review, according to authors Shubham Pant, MD, and Edward Copelan, MD. 

  Take this month’s Clinical Challenge
Who evaluates family donors at your transplant center? Record and compare your donor collection policy by taking this month’s Reader Poll in the left-hand column above.

Copyright © 2007 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. All rights reserved.

The editor for ASBMT eNews is Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH.

E-newsletter services provided by the medical editors at Ascend Media.

Do you have news, responses or opinions to share with us? Please e-mail the association office at enews@asbmt.org.