ASBMT eNews

CMS payment policy
leads to more
blood transfusions

Colorado law
creates cord blood
collection system

July 1, 2008

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Top Stories

Legislation and Regulation

Clinical Research

Biopharmaceutical News

Association News

Calendar

Job & Fellowship Connections

Monthly Journal

eNews Archives

BMT Tandem Meetings
Feb. 11-15, 2009
Tampa, Florida

Wanted: Mid-Level Practitioners

Are you a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner who would be interested in helping to launch a Special Interest Group within ASBMT?

Calendar

• July
International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH)
37th Annual Scientific Meeting
July 9-12
Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts

Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
July 11-18
Given Institute of the University of Colorado
Aspen, Colorado

Cancer Biostatistics Workshop
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
July 13-19
The Lodge at Sonoma
Sonoma, California

Advances in Long-Term Management of Adult Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
July 18-20
Hilton Union Square
San Francisco, California

Cancer Clinical Trials and Personalized Medicine
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
July 20-23
Hyatt Regency Monterey
Monterey, California

Cryo 2008
Society for Cryobiology
45th Annual Meeting
July 20-23
Charlotte, North Carolina

• September
10th International Conference on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia: Biological Basis of Therapy
European School of Haematology
Sept. 5-7
Boston Sheraton Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts

American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)
32nd Annual Meeting
Sept. 6-9
Marriott Chicago Magnificent Mile
Chicago, Illinois

11th Biennial National Symposium on Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Stanford University School of Medicine BMT Program
Sept. 12-13
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
Stanford, California

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
Annual Meeting
Sept. 12-16
Stockholm International Fair
Stockholm, Sweden

ISCT Europe Regional Meeting
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
Sept. 14-16
Cultural Conference Center Elzenveld
Antwerp, Belgium

American Society of Multicultural Health and Transplant Professionals (ASMHTP)
16th Annual Meeting
Sept. 17-19
Radisson Plaza Hotel
Minneapolis, Minnesota

25th National Oncology Economics Conference
Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC)
Sept. 17-20
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
San Francisco, California

5th Annual Symposium on Controversies and Clinical Challenges in Myeloma, Lymphoma and Leukemia
Physicians’ Education Resource
Sept. 19-20
Arizona Biltmore Resort
Phoenix, Arizona

Celebrating a Second Chance at Life Survivorship Symposium
BMT InfoNet
Sept. 20-21
Doubletree Hotel at the Galleria
Dallas, Texas

8th Annual Somatic Cell Therapy Symposium
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
Sept. 22-24
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, Maryland

Stem Cells, Cancer and Aging
Keystone Symposium
Sept. 29-Oct. 4
Swissotel The Stamford/Biopolis
Singapore

• October
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
2008 Annual Meeting
Oct. 4-7
Palais des Congrès de Montréal
Montreal, Canada

9th International Congress on Cell Biology
Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology
Oct. 7-9
COEX Convention & Exhibition Center
Seoul, Korean

Targeted and Tailored Therapies in Hematology/Oncology
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Oct. 11
McDonald’s Hamburger University
Oak Brook, Illinois

Cytokines 2008: Cytokines in Cancer & Infectious Diseases
International Cytokine Society (ICS)
Oct. 12-16
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel
Montreal, Canada

Top Stories

NIH announces changes to peer review process
The National Institutes of Health has announced changes to improve its peer review system. An important component of the new plan, announced at the 96th Meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director, is "an increased commitment to investigator-initiated high-risk, high-impact research to prevent a slowdown of transformative research, despite difficult budgetary times."

Research suggests stem cells can cause cancer
Investigators have used organ transplant registry data to support the hypothesis that many, if not all, cancers are caused by stem cells gone bad. According to research presented at last month's annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, in 12 percent of patients who received an organ transplant from a person of the opposite sex and later developed a solid tumor, the sex of the tumor cells matched the donor and not the recipient.

CMS payment policy leads to more blood transfusions
For patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia at one Georgia clinic, blood transfusions doubled after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) restricted payments for anemia drugs for cancer patients. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents historically had been the largest prescription drug cost for Medicare under its Part B program.

Guidelines being developed for stem cell research
With more U.S. patients looking abroad for experimental stem cell therapy, members of the International Society for Stem Cell Research are setting professional standards for stem cell research. These guidelines, to be finalized by the end of the year, advocate peer review for research, informed consent for patients involved in research, and scientific justification for the work.

A Word from President Helen Heslop, MD

Last year, at an airport in Europe, I met the mother of a child for whom I had performed transplants twice in the early 1990s.

After his first transplant, her son had relapsed. We carefully weighed the alternatives and, after a lot of discussion, elected to proceed with a second transplant involving a mismatched donor.

I was delighted to hear that he is doing well and is now in college. It was good to catch up on his accomplishments because, you see, I’m no longer at the center where he was transplanted, having moved on a decade ago.

We discussed the need for ongoing follow-up care for someone who has received two fully ablative transplants before the age of 10. He is now being followed by his fourth transplant physician.

His mother didn’t seem especially distressed, though, about the succession of physicians because, in her words, “We have always had Richard.”

Richard happens to be a physician’s assistant who has cared for patients at that transplant center for 20 years. Physician’s assistants, along with advanced-practice nurses, are the vitally important health professionals who we often refer to as mid-level practitioners. It’s not a term that is known throughout the world. During a recent meeting of a committee that's drafting the Fourth Edition of the FACT Standards, an English colleague asked, “Who are these mid-level practitioners, and why do we need standards for them?”

The question stunned the U.S. members of the committee. They could not envision a transplant program without mid-level practitioners who are valuable in so many ways, such as caring for inpatients on the wards and outpatients in our clinics, and providing after-hours coverage.

Several weeks ago, the ASBMT Board of Directors held a retreat in Chicago to evaluate and address the changing indications for transplant and the related workforce issues. One of the recurring themes was the importance of recruiting and maintaining skilled mid-level practitioners.

One suggested strategy is the creation of a “special interest group” within ASBMT for mid-level practitioners to make sure that we are addressing their needs and issues. The interest group could help develop a track of sessions for our annual meeting that complement the general sessions and the transplant nurses’ conference.

ASBMT leaders want to meet with mid-level practitioners at the BMT Tandem Meetings next February to discuss how to meet their needs. We would like to hear from mid-level practitioners who might be interested in forming a special interest group and developing an educational track for the annual meeting.

If this sounds like you and you are interested, please use this link to send us your contact information.

– Helen

Legislation and Regulation

Institute would identify most cost-effective treatment options
Two senators are planning to introduce legislation to create a government institute that would perform “comparative effectiveness” research. It would use statistical analyses to identify treatment regimens that are both the best and the most cost-effective. Initially, it would focus on treatments that have not yet been widely adopted.

Colorado law creates cord blood collection system
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed 11 bills into law to provide the "building blocks" of a health care reform plan. One law makes 50,000 more uninsured children in the state eligible for federal Medicaid benefits and for a state plan. Another creates an Adult Stem Cell Cure Fund, supported by a voluntary income-tax checkoff, donations, grants and gifts.

Clinical Research

Immune molecule may prevent transplant rejection
An immune molecule called HLA-G dimer triggers a signaling pathway in which two immune molecules play a major role, which may prevent the immune system from rejecting transplanted organs and tissues. According to a report in the online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, HLA-G helped prolong skin graft survival in mice.

Gene may prove key to controlling myeloma
A gene known as IRF4 appears to be a target for cancerous myeloma cells. According to a report in the online issue of Nature, reducing the activity of this gene by only 50 percent is enough to kill myeloma cells without compromising other healthy cells.

Imaging technology provides new tool to track stem cells
Non-invasive molecular imaging technology that tracks the location and activity of mesenchymal stem cells in the tumors of living organisms may provide an understanding of how stem cells migrate to cancer cells. Researchers at Stanford University hope this technique eventually can be used to determine if gene-modified stem cells are effective in fighting cancer.

Immunosuppression and transplant improves MS quality of life
Immunosuppressive therapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation improved quality of life up to six years in patients with multiple sclerosis. A study of 56 patients presented at the annual meeting of the European Neurological Society showed improvement in 62 percent and stabilization in 38 percent after this treatment regimen.

Biopharmaceutical News

Mozobil submitted for approval in U.S. and Europe
Genzyme Corporation has submitted marketing applications in the United States and the European Union for Mozobil (plerixafor). The drug mobilizes stem cells from the bone marrow into the bloodstream, where they can be collected for subsequent autologous transplant. The company has requested priority review of its U.S. application.

Gambro BCT changes name to CaridianBCT
Colorado-based Gambro BCT Inc. will be CaridianBCT Inc., effective July 14. The name change is intended to establish CaridianBCT as an independent, American-based company with a global presence. The company specializes in blood component technology used by blood banks, hospitals and clinical and biotech researchers.

Association News

Board retreat considers future of BMT
Future directions for the BMT field and the role of ASBMT in shaping that future was the focus of a Board of Directors retreat last month in Chicago.

Comments sought for new edition of FACT standards
A new edition of FACT Standards for transplant centers has been completed and is available for public comment through Sept. 28. The Standards are used for accreditation of facilities in the three phases of blood and marrow transplantation: collection, processing and clinical care. Major updates occur at three-year intervals.

AABB standards for cell therapy services published
The third edition of Standards for Cellular Therapy Product Services (CT Standards) has been published by the AABB. It contains detailed requirements for cellular therapy product procurement, processing, storage, distribution and analysis of treatment outcomes data. The standards also address donor eligibility, new storage temperature requirement for cryopreservation of cord blood products, use of ISBT 128 terminology, and updated regulatory references.

Journal gets new ‘impact factor’
Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation has earned an ISI Impact Factor of 3.797 – its highest since the journal was founded in 1995. BBMT is ranked 3rd among 21 transplant journals

San Diego CD in mail to members and meeting registrants
The plenary and concurrent scientific sessions at the 2008 BMT Tandem Meetings are on a CD that has been mailed to all ASBMT members and registrants for the meetings, held this past February in San Diego. The disk contains nearly 30 hours of synchronized audio and PowerPoint presentations. The CD production and distribution is supported by a grant from Schering-Plough Corporation.

Mass General scientist reports on mixed chimerism
Fabienne Haspot, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in transplantation and immunology at Massachusetts General Hospital, has evaluated a new approach to inducing “mixed hematopoietic chimerism” – a state in which bone marrow cells from both the transplant donor and recipient co-exist in the donor. The work has been supported by an $80,000 clinical research fellowship jointly funded by the American Society of Transplantation and ASBMT.

Review addresses progress in utero therapy
In utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a potential therapeutic alternative for congenital hematologic disorders that can be diagnosed early in gestation. A review in this month’s issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation shows how in utero therapy may have broad clinical application in the near future because donor-specific tolerance induction requires relatively minimal engraftment.

Copyright © 2008 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation.
All rights reserved.
The editor for ASBMT eNews is Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH.
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