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| April 1, 2009 |
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Top
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Legislation and Regulation |
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Clinical
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Biopharmaceutical News |
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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
Archives |
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| Calendar |
• April
Leukemic and Cancer Stem Cells: Common and Distinct Features
European Hematology Association (EHA) and European School of Hematology (ESH)
April 3-5
Pullman Cannes Mandelieu Hotel
Mandelieu, France
UK National Stem Cell Network (UKNSCN)
Annual Science Meeting
April 6-8
University of Oxford
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Cancer, Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells
4th Annual Wisconsin Stem Cell Symposium
April 15
BioPharmaceutical Technology Center
Madison, Wisconsin
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
100th Annual Meeting
April 18-22
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado
Stem Cell Niche Interactions
Keystone Symposia
April 21-26
Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPH/O)
22nd Annual Meeting
April 22-25
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
San Diego, California
Converging Concepts in Cell Therapy
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and Production Assistance for Cellular Therapies (PACT) Workshop
April 23-24
NIH Campus/Natcher Auditorium
Bethesda, Maryland
• May
International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT)
15th Annual Meeting
May 3-6
Sheraton San Diego Hotel
San Diego, California
Focus on Lymphoid Malignancies
European Hematology Association (EHA) and European School of Hematology (ESH)
May 15-17
Nordic Hotel Forum
Tallinn, Estonia
Nuclear Terrorism: Preparedness and Response for Hematology/Oncology Centers
National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT)
May 18
Pooks Hill Marriott
Bethesda, Maryland
Workshop on Clinical Trial Endpoints for Acute GVHD after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
FDA, NCI, NIAID, CIBMTR and ASBMT
May 19
Hilton Rockville
Rockville, Maryland
American Society for Apheresis (ASFA)
30th Annual Meeting
May 20-23
Sheraton San Diego Hotel
San Diego, California
2nd International Congress on Leukemia-Lymphoma-Myeloma
Turkish Society of Hematology
May 21-24
WOW Convention Center
Istanbul, Turkey
American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT)
12th Annual Meeting
May 27-30
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
45th Annual Meeting
May 29-June 2
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, Florida
American Transplant Congress
American Society of Transplantation (AST)
May 30-June 3
John B. Hynes Veteran Convention Center
Boston, Massachusetts
• June
European Hematology Association (EHA)
14th Congress
June 4-7
International Congress Center Berlin
Berlin, Germany
7th Annual International Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation Symposium
Cord Blood Forum
June 5-6
Los Angeles Airport Marriott
Los Angeles, California
FOCIS 2009
Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS)
June 11-14
San Francisco Marriott
San Francisco, California
2009 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference
University of Nebraska Medical Center
June 22-26
Fairmont Orchid
Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii
• July
International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR)
6th Annual Meeting
July 8-11
Centre Convencions Internacional
Barcelona, Spain
Cancer Biostatistics Workshop
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
July 12-18
The Lodge at Sonoma
Sonoma, California
Molecular Biology in Clinical Oncology
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
July 17-24
Given Institute of the University of Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
Cryo 2009
Society for Cryobiology
46th Annual Meeting
July 19-23
Hokkaido University
Sapporo, Japan
• September
International Society for Experimental Hematology (ISEH)
38th Annual Scientific Meeting
Sept. 9-12
Hotel Divani Caravel
Athens, Greece
American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)
33rd Annual Meeting
Sept. 13-16
MGM Grand
Las Vegas, Nevada
26th National Oncology Economics Conference
Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC)
Sept. 22-25
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Washington, D.C.
American Society of Multicultural Health and Transplant Professionals (ASMHTP)
17th Annual Meeting
Sept. 23-25
Green Valley Ranch
Las Vegas, Nevada
• October
Cytokines 2009: Cellular and Cytokine Interactions in Health and Disease
International Cytokine Society (ICS)
Oct. 17-21
Lisbon Convention Center
Lisbon, Portugal
Lymphoma and Myeloma 2009: An International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies
Imedex
Oct. 22-24
Waldorf Astoria Hotel
New York, New York
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
European School of Hematology
Oct. 22-25
Pullman Mandelieu Hotel
Mandelieu, France
American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
2009 Annual Meeting
Oct. 24-27
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
World Conference on Regenerative Medicine
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology
Oct. 29-31
Congress Centre Leipzig
Leipzig, Germany
• November
American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI)
35th Annual Meeting
Nov. 2-6
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
San Francisco, California
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| Top
Stories |
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Scientists decipher blood stem cell attachment, communication
Researchers have uncovered the sequence of events that determines whether hematopoietic progenitor stem cells remain anchored to the bone marrow or migrate into the circulatory system. According to a report in the March 2009 issue of Nature Cell Biology, the stem cells develop projections called uropods that are partially absorbed by the bone marrow osteoblasts, which then produce a chemical called SDF-1. In small quantities, this chemical attracts the stem cells to the osteoblasts. In large quantities, it causes the stem cells to leave the bone marrow and enter the blood stream. 
Hematopoietic stem cells may not regenerate heart muscle
Researchers at the University of Washington have found in their mouse studies that hematopoietic stem cells do not convert into heart muscle cells. The results call into question previous research that has prompted human clinical trials of the cells for heart muscle repair.
Stem cells successfully used to treat limb ischemia
Doctors in India are using adult stem cells taken from patients’ bone marrow to trigger growth of new blood vessels in limbs. Since December 2007, researchers have used this procedure in 34 patients, all of whom were suffering from limb ischemia.
Colorado taxpayers can donate to adult stem cell fund
Taxpayers in Colorado have the option to donate to the “Adult Stem Cell Cure Fund” on their state income tax return forms. The collected funds will be used to encourage and enable new mothers to donate their babies’ umbilical cord blood.
Few physicians advocate private banking of cord blood
A survey of pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant physicians in the United States and Canada has confirmed little support for private banking of umbilical cord blood, unless another family member is at risk for a blood disease that could benefit by a stem cell transplant. According to a report in the March issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the overwhelming majority of cord blood transplants have used units preserved in public banks, and few transplants have been performed using cord blood stored in the absence of a known indication in the recipient. |
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 A Word from President Claudio Anasetti, MD
No more than 5 percent of adult cancer patients in the United States are treated in clinical trials. No wonder progress has been so slow.
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to testify about cancer clinical trials before the Florida House Committee on Health Care Regulatory Policy. It was part of a nationwide initiative by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support patient access to cancer trials.
I told the committee that over the past 50 years, dramatic strides in cancer treatment have been made possible by clinical trials. Two of the best examples are childhood ALL and adult Hodgkin’s disease. Without effective therapy, diagnosis of such a disseminated cancer used to be a death sentence, but nowadays more than 80 percent of adults with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 80 percent of children with ALL survive.
Unfortunately, not all cancer patients enjoy the same statistics. I explained that patients most often enroll in a clinical trial when the results of the standard course of therapy are not satisfactory and a trial provides hope for a better outcome. In a clinical trial, patients need coverage for the cost of in-patient care, nursing services and a range of diagnostics that are the same as those needed by patients receiving standard therapy.
One of the barriers to participation in a clinical trial is the cost of routine medical care. Some private insurance plans exclude payment for routine care costs for patients on clinical trials, because these are perceived as “experimental medicine” with unproved benefits, and are thought to increase the cost of care over standard treatments. Data do not support either reason.
Coverage of routine patient care in cancer clinical trials is now required nationwide for Medicare and Medicaid patients and for patients with most private insurance plans in 24 states and the District of Columbia. But Florida is not one of those states.
I explained how cancer clinical trials lead to better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose and treat disease. Patients realize multiple benefits by taking part in cancer clinical trials, not the least of which may be improved survival, the most up-to-date care from experts, and the opportunity to contribute to our progress against a deadly disease.
Things were proceeding well with our presentation when the committee chair asked, “Can you please explain how much patients suffer and how many patients die after a bone marrow transplant?”
When a treatment is toxic and at times only modestly effective, as in the case of bone marrow transplants for some serious diseases – I explained – we as clinicians and scientists are driven to improve what we can do for our patients. However we are severely limited without carefully conceived and conducted clinical trials. Excluding coverage for routine care in clinical trials might save money for payers in the short term, but it penalizes patients who are suffering today as well as future generations of adults and children for whom, without clinical trials, preventions, treatments and cures will not be improved.
The vice chair spoke up. “Are you asking us to cover the costs of routine medical care for patients on cancer clinical trials? Why would we not want to do that and enter all cancer patients on clinical trials that use state-of-the-art technology and get the problem solved for the next generation?”
Why indeed.
– Claudio
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| Legislation and Regulation |
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Bone marrow failure legislation introduced
Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would bring together resources of several federal agencies to advance understanding and treatment of aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. The Bone Marrow Failure Research and Treatment Act of 2008 (H.R. 1230) was introduced by Doris Matsui (D-CA).
California moves closer to cord blood collection program
A health committee in the California state assembly has approved a bill that will promote umbilical cord blood collection and banking. A $2 increase in California’s birth certificate fee would generate an estimated $3 million for the program. |
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| Clinical Research |
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Pathway leads hematopoietic stem cells to bone marrow niche
Scientists have identified a signaling pathway that guides hematopoietic stem cells to a site in the bone marrow known as the stem cell niche. According to a report in the advance online edition of Nature, a signaling molecule called GαS leads these cells to a niche, where they can develop and replenish red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Method to make stem cells avoids insertion of harmful genes
Researchers have found a way to make induced pluripotent stem cells from human skin cells without using viruses or exotic genes. According to a report in the online edition of Science, using a circle of DNA called a plasmid, which disappears naturally from the cell population over time, triggers the cell to transform but does not insert harmful genes.
Stem cells identified that repair injured muscles
A newly identified skeletal muscle stem cell contributes to the repair of damaged muscles in mice, according to a report in the March 6 issue of Cell Stem Cell. These cells, called satellite-SP cells, are found within populations of satellite cells located between muscle fibers and the surrounding connective tissue.
Procedure grows muscle from adult stem cells
Researchers in New South Wales have used a procedure being trialled in bone marrow transplantation to regrow muscles in a mouse. According to a report in Stem Cells, adult stem cells were given a gene that makes them resistant to chemotherapy, which cleans out damaged cells and allows new stem cells to take hold.
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| Biopharmaceutical News |
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Genzyme purchases three oncology drugs
Genzyme Corp. announced today that it will pay up to $2.8 billion to acquire the rights to three Bayer HealthCare drugs: Campath, Fludara and Leukine. The deal includes no upfront payments, but Bayer will receive money based on its drugs’ abilities to meet scientific milestone and revenue targets.
Trials show omacetaxine kills leukemic stem cells in mice
Omacetaxine killed 90 percent of leukemic stem cells in mice with drug-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia, according to a report in the advance online edition of Leukemia. The drug, being developed by ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited, also prolonged survival in test animals.
European Commission grants orphan designation to StemEx
The European Commission has granted orphan designation to StemEx, an investigational medicinal product for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. The Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture is developing the product, which is a graft of expanded stem/progenitor cells. |
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| Association
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PAs and NPs form special interest group
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners have established a section within ASBMT to address the needs of “mid-level practitioners.” The new special interest group (SIG) will develop sessions for the BMT Tandem Meetings and participate in ASBMT committees. A recruitment campaign is under way.
NMDP, HRSA begin related donor cord blood program
The National Marrow Donor Program and HRSA have launched a program that helps families in which a first-degree relative has been diagnosed with a medical condition that might benefit from a cord blood transplant. For eligible families, there is no charge for cord blood collection or storage. If the unit later is used by a family member, the requesting transplant facility would be charged the usual fee, which may be covered by the patient’s health insurance.
Workshop will consider aGVHD clinical trial endpoints
ASBMT and CIBMTR are collaborating with the FDA and several other federal agencies on a one-day workshop on endpoints for trials of drugs and therapies that prevent and treat acute graft-vs-host disease. The goal is to gather expert insights for decisions about potential endpoints that can be used in current and future studies of aGVHD. There is no registration fee for the workshop that is scheduled for May 19, in Rockville, Md.
Nuclear terrorism preparation and response
A conference on “Nuclear Terrorism: Preparedness and Response for Hematology/Oncology Centers” will be held May 18 in Bethesda, Md. The conference is sponsored by the Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN), a cooperative effort of ASBMT and the National Marrow Donor Program.
Job Connection introduces new features
The ASBMT Online Job Connection has introduced new features that enable job seekers to more easily upload their resumes, while employers can now identify candidates using expanded search criteria.
BMT Tandem Meetings abstracts are searchable online
Abstracts accepted for the 2009 BMT Tandem Meetings, published in the February issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (Vol. 15, No. 2, Supplement), are also indexed and accessible online.
Recordings and MP3 downloads of Tandem sessions
Most plenary and concurrent scientific session presentations of the 2009 BMT Tandem Meetings are available as audio MP3 and synchronized audio/visual downloads.
If you missed the Medical Directors Conference
The next best thing to having been at the Medical Directors Conference at the BMT Tandem Meetings is to view it online free of charge. The conference provided an update on the collection, analysis and reporting of transplant center-specific treatment outcomes, including the status of the Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes Database (SCTOD).
FDA update can be viewed online
The Regulatory Affairs Session at the BMT Tandem Meetings can be viewed online free of charge. Dr. Celia Witten, director of the FDA Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapy, speaks about new regulations, workshops, advisory committee meetings and guidances including the anticipated cord blood regulations.
Pulmonary complications after transplant
Mortality associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after transplantation can be reduced with early detection and aggressive therapy. Jason Chien, MD, MS, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center addresses “HCT Outcomes from a Pulmonary and Critical Care Perspective” in the newest course offering in ASBMT Online Seminars. Print out a certificate for an hour of Category 1 CME credit upon completion of the program and its evaluation.
Audioconference provides transplant update
An April 29 audioconference organized by ASBMT will present to blood banking personnel an update on the expanding pool of hematopoietic cell sources, the mobilization of allogeneic stem cells, and the biology of regulatory T cells and cell trafficking and egress. The audioconference is part of a biweekly series produced by the AABB.
Review examines nonabsorbable corticosteroids and GVHD
The use of nonabsorbable corticosteroids in hematopoietic cell transplantation, along with recommendations for future trials with these agents, is presented in the April issue of Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. The review was prepared by Rami B. Ibrahim, MSc, PharmD, and colleagues at Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University.
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