Families of CLL patients face a higher risk of getting the disease, but a genetic link couldn’t be found. UK scientists say a 6-gene combo could be the key.

Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have begun Phase I clinical trials of a new drug designed to treat myeloproliferative diseases (MPD) that sometimes develop into acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Scientists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have already used the new drug, an orally-administered compound known as TG101348, to successfully treat chronic blood cancers in [...]

Here’s a story from 60 Minutes about a device known as the Kanzius Machine that uses radio waves to destroy cancer cells. Video Enclosure: 60 Minutes Story on Kanzius Machine Developed by retired broadcaster and leukemia patient John Kanzius, the Kanzius Machine works by using a noninvasive radio wave generator to warm nanoparticles within cancer [...]

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota has won the Innovation of the Year in Patient Care Award from the Minnesota Hospital Association for making chemotherapy, CT scans and other medical procedures less frightening for children. Children’s Hospitals and Clinics have been using nitrous oxide, a mild sedative commonly referred to as laughing gas, to relax [...]

The US Food and Drug Administration and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals are withdrawing liquid Leukine® (sargramostim) from US markets after receiving reports the new formula causes patients to faint. Leukine® is prescribed to fight infection in adult acute myelogenous leukemia patients who’ve undergone induction chemotherapy and others experiencing bone marrow transplant graft failure. The withdrawal specifically [...]

Scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have isolated a human blood cell involved in the creation of all blood cells found in the body. This cell, called the multipotent progenitor, is the offspring of stem cells found in bone marrow. Later generations of progenitor cells become the red blood cells, platelets, and immune [...]

A multi-million dollar government contract awarded to develop a treatment for military personnel attacked with radioactive weapons could also benefit leukemia patients whose bodies reject bone marrow transplants. Osiris Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ: OSIR) will receive up to $224.7M from the US Department of Defense to speed development of Prochymal™, an intravenous drug designed to treat [...]

Officials at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) would like to know if space travel increases an astronaut’s risk of developing leukemia. To find out, they are turning to scientists at Stony Brook University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Texas. The researchers will use mice and a $1.4M grant from NASA [...]

A study conducted by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital shows chloroquine, a common prescription drug used to treat malaria, prevents certain types of cancers from developing. The Scripps and St Jude’s researchers used mouse models to test chloroquine’s impact on tumors. Their investigation revealed the drug blocked Burkitt [...]

The international charity Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHSF) has successfully completed an exhausting 14-day trek and acoustic rock concert at the base camp of Mount Everest to raise funds for the Nepal Cancer Relief Society. Musicians from The Alarm, Stray Cats, The Fixx, Squeeze and other groups performed at the event held at an elevation [...]