TOP STORIES

Cancer Researchers Find Two Units of Umbilical Cord Blood Significantly Reduce Risk of Leukemia Recurrence
A new study shows that patients who have acute leukemia and are transplanted with two units of umbilical cord blood have significantly reduced risk of the disease returning. [Masonic Cancer Center-University of Minnesota, Minneapolis]

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SCIENCE NEWS

Successful Bone Marrow Regeneration in Cancer Patients Using Cord Blood Expanded by Proprietary Stem Cells
Mesoblast Limited recently announced that the proprietary mesenchymal precursor cells expanded haematopoietic stem cells in umbilical cord blood by approximately 40-fold. [Mesoblast Limited, Melbourne]

Immune Therapy Can Protect Against or Treat Later Lymphoma
Specially developed immune system cells that target the common Epstein-Barr virus can protect immune-suppressed bone marrow transplant recipients against lymph system disease and cancers that arise from the viral infection. [Baylor College of Medicine, Houston]

First Report of Using Radiolabeled Antibodies and Stem Cell Transplantation to Successfully Treat Advanced Leukemia
For the first time, researchers have reported the use of a radiolabeled antibody to deliver targeted doses of radiation, followed by a stem cell transplant, to successfully treat a group of leukemia and pre-leukemia patients. [Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle]

Scientists Successfully Reprogram Blood Cells
Researchers have transplanted genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells into mice so that their developing red blood cells produce a critical lysosomal enzyme - preventing or reducing organ and central nervous system damage from the often-fatal genetic disorder Hurler's syndrome. [Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati]

Targeting PKC-theta Protein: A Way to Inhibit Harmful Immune Responses?
A team of researchers has now identified the protein PKC-theta as a potential drug target that is required in mice for graft-versus-host disease induction but not for graft-versus leukemia response or protective responses to infectious agents. [H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa]

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CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

The AC133⁺CD38^-, But Not the Rhodamine-low Phenotype, Tracks LTC-IC and SRC Function in Human Cord Blood Ex Vivo Expansion Cultures
Using an expansion system previously shown to increase hematopoietic progenitors and SCID-repopulating cells, the researchers demonstrated that the Rhodamine-low phenotype was lost, while AC133 expression was retained throughout culture. [Blood]

Adenosine A2A Receptor Activation Limits Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
The researchers in this study show in a murine model of C57BL/6J (H2-kb) -> B6D2F1/J (H2-kb/d) acute GVHD that when initiated 2 days before transplant, the activation of the adenosine A2AR with the selective agonist ATL146e inhibits the weight loss and mortality associated with disease progression. [J Leukoc Biol]

High Incidence of Hemophagocytic Syndrome Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation for Adults
Researchers concluded that engraftment failure closely correlated with haemophagocytic syndrome in our cohort, which negatively impacted overall survival after cord blood transplantation. [Br J Haematol]

A "No-wash" Albumin-Dextran Dilution Strategy for Cord Blood Unit Thaw: High Rate of Engraftment and a Low Incidence of Serious Infusion Reactions
Preparation of cord blood units for infusion by albumin-dextran dilution without centrifugation may be advantageous for adult patients to minimize cell loss and, unlike a bedside thaw, is still conducted in the controlled laboratory environment. [Biol Blood Marrow Transplant]

Fetal Umbilical Cord Blood Erythropoietin, Interleukin-6, pH, pO2, pC02, and Base Excess Levels in Histologic and/or Clinical Chorioamnionitis: Is the Response Only Inflammatory?
This paper set out to determine the correlation of histological chorioamnionitis with and without clinical CA with umbilical cord blood gases, erythropoietin, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. [Fetal Pediatr Pathol]

Swiss Bid to Build Blood Plant Stalled
Octapharma's bid to challenge the monopoly that plasma giant CSL holds over the blood trade in Australia appears to have run into a brick wall in Canberra.

Wisconsin Blood-Tracking Study Moves to Phase 2
After completing a two-year study that determined high-frequency radio frequency identification technology would be safe to use and financially beneficial for blood banks, a group headed by the BloodCenter of Wisconsin has received $1.4 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to begin building a prototype of an HF RFID solution.

POLICY NEWS

November 16-17, 2009: Blood Products Advisory Committee Meeting Materials

EVENTS

51st ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 9-12, 2009
New Orleans, Louisiana

2010 BMT Tandem Meetings
February 24-28, 2010
Orlando, Florida

The European Group for Blood & Marrow Transplantation Annual Meeting
March 21-24, 2010
Vienna, Austria

Canadian Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium Annual Meeting
April 7-10, 2010
Vancouver, British Columbia

16th Annual International Society for Cellular Therapy Meeting
May 22-26, 2010
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

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