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Welcome to LeukemiaLinks,
your monthly source of leukemia news, research
updates, clinical trials and events sponsored
by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
(LLS). For even more information, regularly
visit our Patient
Services and Disease
Information Web
sections. | |
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Latest Leukemia
News
New
Biomarker may Predict Leukemia
Aggressiveness
Scientists at the University of
California, San Diego and the Moores UCSD Cancer
Center found that high levels of a particular
enzyme in the blood are an indicator that CLL
will be aggressive and in need of immediate
treatment. First author of the publication
presenting these results, Paul A. Insel, MD, is
a project leader on an
LLS-funded research team led by study
co-investigator and leukemia expert Thomas
Kipps, MD, PhD.
::READ MORE
NEWS::
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LLS Features
::READ
MORE::
.....................................................................................................................................
Research
Roundup ::READ
MORE::
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IRC Question of
the Month
:: READ
MORE::
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Inspirational
Stories
 Learn
how individuals touched by blood cancer
cope. The LLS LifeMosaic
Web feature offers hundreds of
inspiring stories by patients and families. Read
them or submit
your own. This month, read about Judy. |
Here to
Help
For even more information,
regularly visit the LLS Web site, www.LLS.org, where many of our education programs
are archived free of charge for convenient
access 24/7.
If you haven't found what
you're looking for in LeukemiaLinks ,
please call our Information Resource Center
(IRC) to speak with trained information
specialists. IRC staff are available Monday
through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, toll free
at (800) 955-4572; email infocenter@lls.org; or click the "Live Patient Help" button
on the www.LLS.org homepage.
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Commentary
Deborah Banker,
Ph.D., reports
on talks at a recent cancer research
meeting.
Clinical
Trials
We invite you to use
our LLS-supported TrialCheck® Web site
, a clinical trial search service that
offers patients and caregivers immediate access
to listings of all leukemia clinical
trials. Answer just a few simple questions and a
list of available clinical trials related to
your cancer will appear in an easy to read list
of search results.
You may also
want to visit the National Cancer Institute's Cancer
Trials Support Unit, providing resources and
information on Phase III cancer treatment trials
supported by the National Cancer
Institute. :: SELECTED TRIALS::
Newsfeeds &
Podcasts
Now
you can get RSS Feeds and Podcasts from LLS.
:: CLICK HERE TO SIGN
UP::
Free
eNewsletters
Free LLS
eNewsletters deliver the latest information on
research and treatment options, patient services
programs and fundraising events.
::CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
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Study
Validates Means to Measure Possible Leukemia
Marker
A study led by cancer researchers
at The Ohio State University shows that liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) can
measure variations in histones, which are
spool-like proteins that help support and store
DNA. Principal investigator Michael A.
Freitas is a project leader in an LLS -funded
research team at OSU.
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Emerging
Therapies in Leukemia, Lymphoma &
Myeloma
Register now for this free
telephone education program on Tuesday, June 16,
noon - 1:30 p.m. ET. The guest speakers are Gail
J. Roboz, MD and John P. Leonard, MD both from
Weill Medical College of Cornell University/New
York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY and
Robert Z. Orlowski, MD, PhD from The University
of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston,
TX.
My
Personal CML Journey
LLS is proud to
offer My Personal CML Journey, an
interactive, online video education program. The
feature follows the stories and experiences of
two chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
survivors. Learn more.
Personal
Clinical Trials Journey
Participate in
this personalized and interactive program that
follows the stories and experiences of three
cancer survivors who have participated in
clinical trials.
Co-Pay
Assistance Program Broadens Funding
Qualified patients with chronic myelogenous
leukemia can now receive up to $5,000 in
assistance from LLS' Co-Pay Assistance
Program. The aid helps offset prescription
drug co-pays and other insurance-related
expenses according to disease diagnosis.
Clinical Trial Recruitment -- LLS, through
its Therapy Accelerator Program, is
collaborating on several clinical
trials that are actively recruiting.
One of these trials is designed for Leukemia
patients, Trial of CPX-351 in Adult Patients
With First Relapse Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
and is recruiting in New York City and
Houston, Texas. For more information about
these trials, see the Therapy
Accelerator Program section of lls.org.
LLS
Advocacy
LLS's advocacy team represents
the needs of cancer patients and their
families in Washington, DC and state
capitals throughout the United States. We need
your help. Join our
Advocates Network and make your
voice
heard.
Take Action: Urge
Congress to Co-Sponsor Access to Cancer Clinical
Trials
Patient Services
Survey
Please give us
your feedback by completing LLS Disease
& Treatment Publications - Survey for
Patients, Family and Friends.
LLS Blog
Showcase your
support:
- Read leukemia survivor, Debbie
Gill's book, Living
a Miracle, and be inspired by her
battle. All proceeds from the sale of this book
benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society.
The
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is committed to
curing blood cancers and helping patients and
their families. Learn
the many ways you can help advance
LLS's mission.
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Bendamustine: Rebirth
of an Old Drug ::READ
MORE::
Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancers in
the United States ::READ
MORE::
Incorporating the use of GM-CSF in the
Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
::READ
MORE::
Risk Factors for Therapy-Related
Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid
Leukemia Treated with Allogeneic Stem Cell
Transplantation ::READ
MORE::
Emerging Treatment Strategies for Acute
Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in the Elderly ::READ MORE::
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Therapy: Focus on
Second-Generation Tyrosine Kinase
Inhibitors ::READ
MORE::
Results of High-Dose Imatinib Mesylate in
Intermediate Sokal Risk Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
Patients in Early Chronic Phase: A Phase 2Trial
of the GIMEMA CML Working Party ::READ
MORE::
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 Selected Trials
Laboratory-Treated Peripheral
Blood Lymphocytes With or Without Chemotherapy
in Treating Patients with Progressive B-Cell
Lymphoma or Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
::READ
MORE::
Phase II: BL22 Immunotoxin in
Treating Patients with Hairy Cell Leukemia That
Has Relapsed or Not Responded to Treatment
::READ
MORE::
A Phase I/II Study of
Combination Dasatinib and Lenalidomide in Purine
Analogue-Failed Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia ::READ
MORE::
A Phase 2 Trial of MLN8237 in
Adult Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
and High-Grade Myelodysplastic Syndrome
::READ
MORE::
A Phase III Study to Evaluate
the Efficacy and Safety of Lenalidomide as
Maintenance Therapy for Patients with B-Cell CLL
Following Second Line Therapy (THE CONTINUUM
TRIAL) ::READ
MORE::
>
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IRC Question of
the Month: Pain Management
Issues
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Q: My
dad told me that he has chosen to take part in a
clinical trial for his leukemia treatment. Are
clinical trials safe?
A:
U.S. cancer clinical trials are
carefully designed and monitored to give
participants such as your dad the safest, and
potentially most effective, treatment outcomes.
All trials follow strict scientific and ethical
guidelines. Every clinical trial has an action
plan, called a "protocol." Whether a cancer
clinical trial takes place at just a few
locations or at sites across the U.S., the same
protocol is used by every doctor at each
treatment center taking part in the trial.
A cancer clinical
trial is divided into four phases. Healthcare
providers carefully check patient safety in all
phases of a trial. In phase 1 trials, a
treatment is tested in a very small group of
patients to establish safety and dose. In phase
2 trials, treatment is tested in a larger group
of patients to establish whether and how well
the treatment works. Phase 3 trials compare a
"treatment group" (large numbers of patients who
receive the "study" treatment) to a "control
group" (large numbers of patients who are being
treated with the best standard treatment). For
treatments that have already been approved by
the FDA following phase 3 trials, phase 4
studies are often done to gather more
information.
Advances in treatment
for leukemia depend on clinical trials. So,
being treated in a clinical trial also means
that your dad will participate in a research
study to improve the care and treatment of
people with cancer. Here are 10 important
questions for people to ask their doctors about
whether treatment in a specific clinical trial
is right for
them:
1. What is the
purpose of this clinical trial and why do you
think it may be effective for me?
2. How is
the "study" treatment different from the best
standard treatment available to me?
3. What
are the expected benefits and risks of the
"study" treatment versus the standard treatment?
4. Who will be in charge of my care?
5.
Where will I be treated?
6. How do I know
whether my insurance will cover the costs of the
clinical trial? Will I have to pay for
any part of the trial
such as tests or the study drug?
7. Can I
talk to other people in the study?
8. How
long will I be treated in the study?
9. How
and when will I know if my treatment is or isn't
working?
10. If the study treatment is not
effective for me, how will this affect my other
treatment
options?
People who decide to
consider participating in a trial will have more
opportunity to gather information. The "informed
consent" process gives potential participants a
chance to ask more questions, to read over
written information at home, and to discuss it
further with their doctors, families and other
trusted advisors. People who need the
services of a language interpreter may request
one.
The Information
Resource Center (IRC) staff is skilled in
providing assistance to people considering
clinical trial options. You may reach the IRC by
calling (800) 955-4572, using Live
Help or by sending an email.
Visitors to the LLS Web site can find clinical
trials near them through the LLS-supported TrialCheck®
Web site, a clinical trial search service that
provides access to blood cancer clinical trials
listings.
For more information
view, print or order the free LLS booklet Understanding
Clinical Trials for Blood Cancers, see the
Web page Making
Treatment Decisions and participate in the
interactive Web video My
Clinical Trials Journey on the LLS
Web
site.
Please call our
Information Resource Center (IRC) to speak with
a trained information specialist. IRC staff are
available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6
p.m. ET, toll free at (800) 955-4572. Contact
us online or click the "Live
Patient Help" button on the www.LLS.org
homepage.
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Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck
Ave., White Plains, NY 10605, (800)
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