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 Researchers from King’s College Hospital in London have found that mutations in the TP53 gene are highly correlated with poor prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes patients. In a statistical analysis that controlled for a range of patient characteristics, the researchers found that having a TP53 mutation was the patient characteristic with the strongest impact on survival. The findings were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in December. TP53 is a gene used by the body to produce a protein that suppresses tumor growth. The gene is mutated in about half of human cancers. Previous studies have shown that TP53 mutations are associated with disease progression in… Read the full story » | . |
New research supports the theory that myelodysplastic syndromes has its origins in bone marrow stem cells.
“We have experimentally demonstrated for the first time that [myelodysplastic syndromes] stem cells can transplant and initiate disease. That means that in order to cure the disease, we must target and eradicate this cell population,” said Dr. Christopher Park, the lead researcher on the study from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
Dr. Park explained that the findings will probably not have immediate implications for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients. However, he pointed out…
An oral formulation of Estybon shows activity and is safe in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, according to results of a Phase 1 study.
The study investigators found that the optimal dose for oral Estybon was 560 mg twice daily for two weeks of a three-week treatment cycle. The most common observed side effects were problems involving urination, such as painful urination and blood in the urine.
The findings were presented during a poster session at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in December.
Estybon (rigosertib, ON 01910.Na) is an…
Results of a recent clinical trial show that lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients treated with Nplate have fewer bleeding problems, require fewer platelet transfusions, and are more likely to have increased platelet counts than patients treated with a placebo.
However, the trial investigators also found transient increases in immature blood cell counts and a higher risk for progression to acute myeloid leukemia in patients treated with Nplate.
They therefore decided to discontinue treatment with Nplate.
The results of the trial also have been reflected in important warnings that have been added…
Preliminary results from two independent clinical trials indicate that panobinostat in combination with Vidaza may be effective and safe for higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients.
The studies were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in San Diego this past December.
Panobinostat (LBH589), which is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Novartis (NYSE: NVS), belongs to a class of drugs known as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. HDAC inhibitors work by increasing the production of proteins that slow cell division and cause cell death.
When used alone, panobinostat has…
A retrospective analysis of clinical trials involving the use of Revlimid in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes patients shows that that the rate of cancer for Revlimid-treated MDS patients is similar to the rate of cancer in the general public.
The findings were presented at the 2011 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting held in December.
The results need to be considered carefully, however, because the analysis compares the rate of second cancers among Revlimid-treated MDS patients in clinical trials with the rate of cancer in the general public.
A more relevant…