If all goes well, a patient will be cancer-free after a few weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. However, he or she will be required to have repeat visits to the doctor to ensure proper health quality and immunity. In worst case scenarios, a patient in remission will relapse and have to repeat the treatment all over again, but such cases are rare. To learn more about leukemia or other blood cancers, visit www.leukemia-lymphoma.org, where one can also donate or participate in a Team in Training walk, a charitable activity that raises money for leukemia research. Higher levels of bilirubin In blood cuts lung cancer risk
New research including more than 500,000 adults shows that levels in the blood of bilirubin in the normal range but relatively higher were linked to a reduced risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and all-cause death, according to a study to be published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Bilirubin is a compound produced by the breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells.
It is in excreted urine, and high levels may indicate certain diseases. It is responsible for the yellow color of bruises and the yellow discoloration in jaundice. Bilirubin may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help protect cells, the researchers said.
Bilirubin is created by the activity of biliverdin reductase on biliverdin, a green tetrapyrrolic bile pigment which is also a product of heme catabolism. Bilirubin, when oxidized, reverts to become biliverdin once again. This cycle, in addition to the demonstration of the potent antioxidant activity of bilirubin, has led to the hypothesis that bilirubin’s main physiologic role is as a cellular antioxidant.
Previous studies suing animals have shown that raised bilirubin levels in the blood appears to protect the lungs against environmental damage, which may be due to the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of bilirubin, she added.
Laura J. Horsfall, M.Sc., of University College London, and colleagues examined the association between serum bilirubin levels and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and all-cause death in a large population-based group of patients from the United Kingdom .
Although the research did not establish causality for any of the relationships, there is some experimental evidence that bilirubin has benefits for respiratory health because of its cytoprotective properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects, according to the researchers.
Bioengineered protein may help fight leukemia
CTS Europe The Leadership Gathering for Cell therapy Executives
Scientists have announced a breakthrough discovery in understanding how the body fights leukemia.
They have identified a protein called CD19-ligand (CD19-L) located on the surface of certain white blood cells that facilitates the recognition and destruction of leukemia cells by the immune system.
This work represents the first report of a bioengineered version of CD19-L, a recombinant human biotherapeutic agent, targeting CD19-positive leukemic stem cells.
The study was conducted by researchers at the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases and The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer occurring in children and adolescents. Despite having received intensive chemotherapy, some patients have recurring disease. For these individuals, the prospect of long-term survival is poor.
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell involved in immune function and are categorized as either B-cells or T-cells.
This newly discovered element, CD19-L, is expressed on the surface of T-lymphocytes and allows them to selectively bind to the CD19 receptor on the surface of B-lineage leukemia cells, and most importantly on leukemic stem cells responsible for the survival and expansion of the leukemia cell population.
Once the CD19-L binds to leukemia cells, cell death occurs. Although CD19 is abundantly expressed on leukemia cells from B-lineage ALL patients, it is absent on red cells, T-cells, and normal bone marrow stem cells, making it specific, and therefore, a good therapeutic target.
Lead author Fatih Uckun and colleagues have bioengineered and prepared a highly purified liquid formulation of the human CD19-L protein.
This recombinant protein not only shows selective binding to leukemia cells but also causes their rapid destruction within 24 hours. Perhaps most importantly, CD19-L killed even those leukemia cells that were highly resistant to both standard chemotherapy drugs as well as radiation.
The identification of CD19-L may lead to therapeutic innovation for childhood leukemia by allowing a selective destruction of leukemic stem cells.
The study has been published in the British Journal of Haematology. (ANI) Experts from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Available for Comment on Prevention, Treatment and Detection
Newswise — New Brunswick, N.J., February 21, 2011 – The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss risk factors, treatment and prevention options surrounding colorectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 143,000 new cases of the disease were diagnosed in the United States last year with about 4,430 new cases in New Jersey. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the nation and is the third leading cause of cancer death among both men and women.
While the exact cause of most colorectal cancers is not known, risk factors include poor diet, lack of exercise, and having polyps in the colon or rectum areas. Those over age 50 also are at increased risk. Beginning at age 50, it is recommended that both men and women undergo periodic colonoscopies, fecal occult blood tests and/or other screenings that can detect colorectal cancer. Earlier testing is recommended for people with increased risk, such as those with a family history of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if everyone aged 50 or older were screened regularly, as many as 60 percent of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.
Some signs of colorectal cancer include:
• Bleeding from your rectum.
• Blood in the stool or toilet after you have a bowel movement.
• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days.
• Cramping pain in your lower stomach.
Studies show that colorectal cancer may be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, keeping physically active and limiting the use of alcoholic beverages.
CINJ experts available for comment include:
David A. August, MD, is the chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at CINJ and a professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. August is also the director of CINJ’s Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Oncology Program, which is a multidisciplinary clinical and scientific program that provides comprehensive services to patients with pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions involving gastrointestinal organs, including the colon and rectum. He can discuss the importance of patients having a comprehensive evaluation under one roof with a close collaboration of multiple specialists including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and other experts.
Rebecca Moss, MD, is a medical oncologist at CINJ and an assistant professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who has an interest in gastrointestinal malignancies. Dr. Moss has engaged in research involving chemotherapy and other treatment regimens involving various tumor sites in the gastrointestinal tract including novel therapeutics for colorectal cancer.
Elizabeth Poplin, MD, is a medical oncologist at CINJ and a professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Poplin has expertise in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies including standard and novel treatment options for cancers of the colon and rectum. She can discuss the latest in cancer research studies involving these tumor sites. NEW ORLEANS -- Last week, 14-year-old Shelby Leonhard lost her battle with cancer, but she leaves behind a legacy of giving.
So many families just like Shelby's have benefited from blood donations, which spiked after the community rallied in support of the ailing girl.
One of those families is that of Benjamin Cousins, also known as "Bennyboots." He is just 2 1/2 years old, and last month he was diagnosed with an aggressive leukemia. Just like Shelby, he has rare A-negative blood.
When the community turned out to help Shelby, they helped Bennyboots too.
"One time he needed platelets, but she needed them more, and so she got them, and then the next day they traded," said Robbie Cousins, Benny's father.
And Benny will need blood and platelets for a quite a while.
"We can't just go to the drug store or Walmart and buy it," said Amanda Chittenden of The Blood Center. "It is something that has to come from a living, breathing volunteer donor."
The Cousins know about receiving and giving back. They had actually been using blood drives in search of the perfect donor bone marrow for Benny, another benefit of donating blood.
"In doing that, we collected a lot blood for the blood center, and it turned out very well," Robbie Cousins said.
And they found their miracle match. Next month, Benny's 5-year-old brother Jack will donate bone marrow to Benny.
Their mother, Kim, told Jack, "'You are a true life superhero, Jack,' and he's like 'No, I'm not.' And I say, 'You are, and you are going to save Benny's life, and you're going to bring Benny home.'"
Building on Shelby's legacy, the Cousins know the need for blood, platelets and bone marrow matches doesn't stop with their own little boy.
"Between the blood, and if we could find another bone marrow match, just for somebody somewhere, I think it would make all of this worth it," Robbie Cousins said.
The Cousins family is holding a Cocktails For A Cause fundraiser on Thursday at The Rusty Nail and CG's Cafe. The event also includes a raffle and silent auction, and $1 from each cocktail that night will go to thelp the family with medical costs.
Also Thursday is a blood drive in honor of Shelby Leonhard. It DUBAI, UAE – To celebrate love this month of February and as an expression of concern for others, around 50 Filipino migrant workers donated blood for cancer patients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Al Wasl Hospital recently.
Dubbed “Donate Blood; Save Life,” the project was spearheaded by Alpha Phi Omega - UAE Alumni Association (APO-UAE) and supported by Migrante International-UAE, Sigma Rho fraternity and other members of the Filipino Community in Dubai.
According to Nick Atienza, vice-president for internal affairs of APO-UAE, their group has been conducting blood-letting projects for the past four years as a show of gratitude to their host country and to demonstrate that Filipinos are always ready to help those who are in need.
“Lagi naming ginagawa ang ganitong pagserbisyo sa tao – ang pag-donate ng dugo. Kahit sa Pilipinas pa, bago pa kami nakarating dito – ang APO, ganito rin ang ginagawa. We organize ourselves and we go to the hospitals to donate our blood,” Atienza said.
The beneficiaries of the project are the Blood Donation Center under the Dubai Health Authority and patients at the Genetic and Thalassemia Center in Al Wasl Hospital.
Many people in the Middle East are affected by thalassemia, a blood disorder passed down through families characterized by an abnormal production of hemoglobin which leads to anemia. This disease can be treated through blood transfusion.
Employees at the Al Wasl Hospital were grateful to the Filipinos, as on the day of the bloodletting project itself, four donors contributed blood platelets for an emergency need of one cancer patient.
Atienza called on other migrant Filipinos to participate in this worthwhile project. “Sana po ay dumami pa tayo sa susunod na taon at ito po ay patuloy nating gagawin,” he said.