Page 21«..10..20212223..3040..»

After Bone Marrow Donation Saves 9-Year-Old Boy With Cancer, Boston Mom Fights To Raise Awareness – Here And Now

By daniellenierenberg

Every year, about 10,000 people in the U.S. need a stem cell transplant but cant find a donor.

The intense medical procedure, which can help those with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia and other blood diseases, can save lives but securing a donor can be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Be The Match is a nonprofit, national registry where people can sign up to donate their stem cells. More than 35 million people around the world have volunteered yet only a small percentage of those donors are Americans, and even the registry admits most Americans dont know it exists.

The mother of a 12-year-old boy with leukemia has set out to change that.

Mandy Goldman is a hairdresser who lives with her husband and four children outside Boston. She remembers the devastating day five years ago when doctors told her the chemotherapy they gave her son Mateo Goldman, 9 years old at the time, didnt work.

They told us that our only option of curing Mateo was a bone marrow transplant, she says, a risky procedure that often involves a host of complications. But they had no other choice, she says.

The family got to work on the monumental task finding Mateo Goldman a close enough match.

Linda Matchan first reported the Goldman familys experience for The Boston Globe. In her research, she found very, very few people had any awareness of the need for bone marrow and stem cells donors. The awareness campaign around the subject is severely lacking compared to other campaigns like the importance of donating blood, she says.

For example, there's a little boy right now in North Carolina named Thor Forte, who's 10 and has sickle cell disease. And he has been waiting for literally half his life, five years, for a donor to be available, Matchan says. He's a tough match, but they finally did find somebody. And then when the time came for the procedure, the person backed out. So two years later, the boy is still waiting.

Fortunately, quickly after finding out Mateo Goldman didnt match with anyone in his family, he was paired with a donor on the registry from Germany. Mandy Goldman says Laura Stterlin of Frankfurt was ready to go and donate, ultimately saving her son.

Mateo Goldman wrote Stterlin, whose name he did not know at the time, a thank you note reading: Dear Donor, thank you for giving me the bone marrow. You feel like youre already part of my family, he says.

And unlike usual Make-A-Wish requests, Mateo Goldman asked to meet Stterlin in person halfway across the world. The trip to Germany was planned for summer of 2020 but has since been canceled due to the pandemic.

In 2019 when she was reporting this story, Matchan had a trip planned to Germany. She ended up meeting Stterlin and hearing the story of how she became a donor. Stterlin said she was at a sporting event with her husband when she got hungry and went on the hunt for some grub.

Dear Donor, thank you for giving me the bone marrow. You feel like youre already part of my family.

Germany has a robust public service campaign to get citizens to donate bone marrow, Matchan says. So it came to no surprise to Stterlin when she came across a kiosk to sign up.

Just three months later, she got a call and an email from the registry saying that there is somebody in the United States for whom she could be a match and was asked if she would donate, Matchan says. A couple of days later, she went into the hospital and did the donation.

Stterlins stem cells then crossed the Atlantic Ocean, making their way to America during a snowstorm.

The cells started working in Mateo Goldman right away but not without some difficulties, Mandy Goldman says. He battled total body stiffness from graft-versus-host disease, a complication of the transplant.

But, you know, Matteo's an amazing kid, she says, so through it all, he was smiling and making the best of it, even though he was suffering for a lot of the time.

Two years later, in July of 2020, the cancer came back. But since Mateo Goldmans first transplant, the science had evolved greatly.

So much so that his older brother, Leo Goldman, became a candidate to donate his cells for the second stem cell transplant.

I didn't realize how I could get my brother's cells, Mateo Goldman, now 12 years old, says. Once that sank in, I felt that it would connect me and my brother more.

Right before Christmas last year, the family got extraordinary news: Mateo Goldman had zero cancer in his bone marrow, Mandy Goldman says.

Now the mom of four is on a mission to raise awareness on stem cell donations and share the story of how it saved her sons life.

The amazing feeling Leo got from being able to be the person who saved his brother's life is something he's going to carry with him forever, she says. And even Laura [Stterlin], she gave him three and a half years of his life that we get to spend with him. I just really want to educate people about how empowering it is to do something so incredible for somebody else.

When she started talking to others to raise awareness, she was shocked to discover how fearful people were in committing to be a donor.

If people could see the trauma these patients go through her son had a drain placed in his stomach, total body radiation, chemotherapy that left him head-to-toe in a skin-burning rash she says then maybe they wouldnt be scared to dedicate a small action for someone whose only cure is through a stem cell transplant.

Once people are educated about how much of a difference it makes, she says, then I feel like they would do it.

Click here to learn more about the Be The Match Registry.

Tinku Rayproduced and edited this interview for broadcast.Serena McMahonadapted it for the web.

See original here:
After Bone Marrow Donation Saves 9-Year-Old Boy With Cancer, Boston Mom Fights To Raise Awareness - Here And Now

To Read More: After Bone Marrow Donation Saves 9-Year-Old Boy With Cancer, Boston Mom Fights To Raise Awareness – Here And Now
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on After Bone Marrow Donation Saves 9-Year-Old Boy With Cancer, Boston Mom Fights To Raise Awareness – Here And Now | dataFebruary 6th, 2021
Read All

Leukemia in children: Symptoms, causes, treatment, outlook, and more – Medical News Today

By daniellenierenberg

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood. The two most common types in children are acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.

In a person with leukemia, blood cells are released into the bloodstream before they are fully formed, so there are fewer healthy blood cells in the body.

Below, we describe the types of childhood leukemia, the symptoms, and the treatments. We then look at when to contact a doctor, what questions to ask, and where to find support.

Childhood leukemia is the most common form of cancer in children. It affects up to 3,800 children under the age of 15 in the United States each year.

Leukemia occurs when bone marrow releases new blood cells into the bloodstream before they are fully mature.

These immature blood cells do not function as they should, and eventually, the number of immature cells overtakes the number of healthy ones.

Leukemia can affect red and white blood cells and platelets.

The bone marrow produces stem cells. A blood stem cell can become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell.

Lymphoid stem cells become white blood cells. Myeloid stem cells can become:

Leukemia is typically acute or chronic, and chronic types are rare in children. They can include chronic myeloid leukemia or chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Most childhood leukemias are acute, meaning that they progress quickly and need treatment as soon as possible.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type in children, accounting for 75% of childhood leukemia cases.

It affects cells called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell.

In a person with ALL, the bone marrow releases a large number of underdeveloped white blood cells called blast cells. As the number of these increases, the number of red blood cells and platelets decreases.

There are two subtypes of ALL: B-cell and T-cell.

In most childhood cases of ALL, the cancer develops in the early forms of B-cells. The other type, T-cell ALL, typically affects older children.

Research from 2020 reports that the majority of people diagnosed with ALL are under 18 and typically between 2 and 10 years old.

The American Cancer Society report that children under 5 years old have the highest risk of developing ALL and that this risk slowly declines until a person reaches their mid-20s.

The outlook for ALL depends on the subtype, the persons age, and factors specific to each person.

Myeloid leukemias account for approximately 20% of childhood leukemia cases, and most myeloid leukemias are acute.

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) affects white blood cells other than the lymphocytes. It may also affect red blood cells and platelets.

AML can begin in:

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) accounts for approximately 12% of leukemia cases in children.

This rare type is neither acute nor chronic. JMML begins in the myeloid cells, and it typically affects children younger than 2 years.

Symptoms can include:

The symptoms of leukemia may be nonspecific similar to those of other common childhood illnesses.

A doctor will ask how long the child has been experiencing the symptoms, which can include:

Children may experience specific symptoms depending on the type of blood cell that the leukemia is affecting.

A low number of red blood cells can cause:

A low number of healthy white blood cells can cause infections or a fever with no other sign of an infection.

A low platelet count can cause:

Various factors can increase a childs risk of leukemia, and most are not preventable.

The following genetic conditions can increase the risk of leukemia:

Also, having a sibling with leukemia may increase the risk of developing it.

These can include exposure to:

If a child has symptoms that might indicate leukemia, a doctor may perform or request:

A bone marrow aspiration involves using a syringe to take a liquid sample of bone marrow cells. The doctor may give the child a drug that allows them to sleep through this test.

During the diagnostic process, a person might ask:

The doctor may recommend a variety of treatments for childhood leukemia, and the best option depends on a range of factors specific to each person.

The treatment usually consists of two phases. The first aims to kill the leukemia cells in the childs bone marrow, and the second aims to prevent the cancer from coming back.

The child may need:

Before or during treatment, a person might ask the doctor:

Questions to ask after the treatment might include:

Children who have undergone leukemia treatments require follow-up care, as the treatments often cause late effects.

These can develop in anyone who has received treatment for cancer, and they may not arise for months or years after the treatment has ended.

Treatments that can cause late effects include:

These complications may affect:

The late effects that may come can also depend on the type of treatment and the form of leukemia.

Because many leukemia symptoms can also indicate other issues, it can be hard to know when to contact a doctor.

Overall, it is best to seek medical advice if a child shows symptoms or behaviors that are not normal for them.

If a child has received a leukemia diagnosis, the effects can extend to parents, other family members, caregivers, and friends.

A person can find support and additional resources from:

The following organizations based in the United Kingdom also provide support and guidance:

Childhood leukemia can affect mental health, as well as physical health.

Learn more about mental health resources here.

According to the American Cancer Society, most children with leukemia have no known risk factors. There is no way to prevent leukemia from developing.

Because there are very few lifestyle-related or environmental causes of childhood leukemia, it is very unlikely that a caregiver can do anything to help prevent the disease.

A childs outlook depends on the type of leukemia. It is important to keep in mind that current estimates do not take into account recent advances in technology and medicine.

For example, the most recent 5-year survival rate estimates reflect the experiences of children who received their diagnoses and treatments more than 5 years ago.

The American Cancer Society report that the 5-year survival rate for children with ALL is 90%. The same rate for children with AML is 6570%.

Childhood leukemia is typically acute, which means that it develops quickly. As a result, a person should contact a doctor if they notice any of the symptoms.

The most common type of childhood leukemia is ALL, representing 3 out of 4 leukemia cases in children.

Treatment may include a combination of chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, stem cell transplants, surgery, and radiation.

The prognosis depends on the type of leukemia and the childs age.

This diagnosis can affect mental as well as physical health, and the effects can extend to caregivers, family members, and friends. Many different resources are available for support.

View original post here:
Leukemia in children: Symptoms, causes, treatment, outlook, and more - Medical News Today

To Read More: Leukemia in children: Symptoms, causes, treatment, outlook, and more – Medical News Today
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Leukemia in children: Symptoms, causes, treatment, outlook, and more – Medical News Today | dataFebruary 6th, 2021
Read All

Perales Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Recipients of Cellular Therapies for Cancer – OncLive

By daniellenierenberg

Following stem cell transplant or treatment with CAR T-cell therapies, patients with hematologic malignancies and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tend to have favorable outcomes, especially if they are diagnosed in complete remission (CR) and further out from their cell infusion, according to Miguel-Angel Perales, MD, underscoring that care should not be delayed despite the ongoing pandemic.

Delayed therapy results in patients with relapse or progression of disease who did not receive the intended cellular therapy; [weve seen this happen] in 34% of cases, Perales, chief of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), said during a presentation delivered at the 2021 AACR Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 and Cancer.1 Given that we can avoid the risk of nosocomial transmission, I think this clearly indicates that we should be careful about how we manage these patients and not try to delay their care.

In his talk, Perales highlighted registry data detailing the impact of the pandemic on cellular treatment in patients with cancer, outcomes of patients who were infected with the virus and received hematopoietic cell transplantation, and the impact of virus-related delays in care.

Data reported to the ASH Research Collaborative COVID-19 Registry for Hematology, a global reference tool available to the public, showed that as of January 15, 2021, a total of 813 malignant and non-malignant cases of COVID-19 were reported, with just over 500 cases reported in the United States alone.2

When looking at cellular therapies received prior to a diagnosis with the virus, 10 patients had received CAR T-cell therapies (6 recovered, 4 died), 46 patients had undergone allogeneic stem cell transplantation (34 recovered, 7 died, 5 had unknown outcome), and the majority, or 78 patients, had undergone autologous stem cell transplantation (67 recovered, 7 died, 4 had unknown outcome).

An earlier analysis of data collected from this registry showed that among the first 250 patients for whom data were collected, the overall mortality rate was 28% (95% CI, 23%-34%).3 However, in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection, the mortality rate was even higher, at 42% (95% CI, 34%-50%). This is a condition that has significantly impacted our patients with hematologic malignancies, noted Perales.

Another registry, of the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), requires the inclusion of outcomes of patients who have undergone transplantation or received CAR T cells.4 As of January 15, 2021, data for 1258 patients from 195 centers were reported to the registry and showed that 50.08% of patients had undergone allogeneic transplantation and 44.66% had undergone autologous transplantation. Only a small percentage of patients received cell therapy, according to Perales.

The age of patients at the time of infection ranged from less than 20 years to older than 70 years, with the majority of patients between the ages of 60 years and 69 years. When looking at infections by region, 29.35% of cases were reported in the Midwest, 23.44% were reported in the Northeast, and 22.73% were reported in the South. The majority of cases occurred within the first 2 years of their infusion. A total of 614 casesalmost half of all patientshad their infection resolve, while 58 experienced improvement; 187 patients had died.

In a subsequent paper, investigators examined risk factors associated with death from COVID-19 in recipients of allogeneic transplantation based on data from the CIBTR registry.5 Results from the multivariate analysis showed that age greater than 50 years (P = .016), male gender (P = .006), and COVID-19 infection in less than 12 months following transplantation (P = .019) were all significantly associated with increased risk of death.

Interestingly, race and ethnicity were not significant in this series, noted Perales. Similarly, when we look at patients [who have undergone] autologous transplant, the only factor that we saw was the diagnosis of lymphoma versus myeloma. Other factors were not significant.

In another analysis, investigators examined outcomes of patients following transplant who were infected with the virus at MSKCC. Of the first 77 patients diagnosed between March 15, 2020 and May 7, 2020, 37 had undergone autologous transplant, 35 had undergone allogeneic transplant, and 5 had received CAR T-cell therapy.6

The disease distribution was as expected, according to Perales. Thirty-eight percent of patients had plasma cell disease, 23% had acute leukemia, 23% had aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), 5% had Hodgkin lymphoma, 4% had chronic myeloid leukemia, 4% had myelodysplastic syndrome, and 3% had indolent NHL.

When you look at day [of infection] post infusion, you see there was a significant range, said Perales. In fact, the number of patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 several months or even years after their cell therapy. These are the demographics of 77 patients, but this is representative of the patients that we transplant at our center.

Notably, 44% of patients did not have any comorbidities. Investigators also examined the home medications that patients were receiving at the time of their COVID-19 diagnosis. Here, 10 patients were receiving steroids, 18 were receiving immunomodulatory agents, 4 were receiving anticoagulation agents, and 14 were receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

Almost half, or 48%, of patients had mild COVID-19 infection, so they were not admitted to the hospital. Twenty-six percent of patients had moderate infection, and thus, were admitted to the hospital, while 22% had severe infection and were either admitted to the intensive care unit or died.

In that group, the majority of them actually had active malignancy, unlike the other 2 groups where the majority actually were in remission, said Perales. Patients who required high levels of oxygen [were often those who] had active malignancy.

Results from a univariate analysis looking at the predictors of disease severity revealed significant associations between the presence of comorbidities and infiltrates on imaging at the time of diagnosis. Overall, however, we were able to see favorable outcomes with patients after COVID-19 infection, said Perales. Two-thirds of patients actually had a resolution. We did see 14 deaths, which represented 18% of patients. This was 41% of patients who were admitted, but particularly those with an active malignancy.

Among patients who were admitted to the hospital but had a malignancy that was in remission, the mortality rate was 21%. This was due, in part, to the fact that in many cases, patients or their family members decided to forego aggressive medical care.

Additional data revealed that COVID-19 was linked with a drop in lymphocyte populations across the board, added Perales. Notably, lymphopenia with COVID-19 was not found to impair long-term immune reconstitution in patients who had undergone bone marrow transplant.

When looking at survival in patients after infection with COVID-19, overall outcomes were found to be favorable.

Investigators also examined the risk of nosocomial infections in patients who had undergone transplantation or received cellular treatment in light of the pandemic. They looked at a series of 44 cases.

In March 2020, 2 healthcare workers were exposed at MSKCC and 3 patients had documented COVID-19 infection. One patient was receiving treatment in the inpatient setting, but the patient did have frequent visits from family members, according to Perales. So, its unclear when or how the exposure occurred, Perales said. The patient ended up dying.

Two additional patients may have been exposed in the donor room while they were collecting the stem cell from the autologous transplant, added Perales. One patient eventually died from the virus.

Again, its unclear whether these patients were infected in the center or in the community, as COVID-19 was very prevalent at the time, said Perales. Importantly, we have not seen any additional cases of potential or definite COVID-19 nosocomial infection since March 2020 at our center.

When examining the impact of the pandemic on treatment delays, in March 2020, investigators started to prospectively collect data from patients whose transplant or cellular therapy was delayed as a result of the impact of the virus on resources at the hospital, particularly the capability of using intensive care unit beds.1

Results showed that 85 patients delayed treatment; of those patients, 29 have not received their intended cellular treatment. Sixteen were supposed to receive autologous transplant, 12 were supposed to undergo allogeneic transplant, and 1 was supposed to receive CAR T-cell therapy.

Of the 56 patients who eventually proceeded to treatment, 62% received autologous transplant, 67% received allogeneic transplant, and 86% received CAR T-cell therapy. The biggest reason for not proceeding to treatment with autologous transplant and CAR T-cell therapy was because they were deferred due to good disease control. Other reasons included was because of a new comorbidity (12%) or they died from the virus. The most prominent reason for not proceeding to allogeneic transplant during the pandemic was progression of disease (42%).

We conclude that patients who are recipients of allogeneic transplant, and particularly those with acute leukemia, as much as possible should proceed to their indicated therapy and not be delayed, concluded Perales.

Excerpt from:
Perales Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Recipients of Cellular Therapies for Cancer - OncLive

To Read More: Perales Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Recipients of Cellular Therapies for Cancer – OncLive
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Perales Examines the Impact of COVID-19 on Recipients of Cellular Therapies for Cancer – OncLive | dataFebruary 6th, 2021
Read All

US Man Who Wants to Live for 180 Years Re-injects His Own Stem Cells, Spends Rs 87 Lakh – News18

By daniellenierenberg

Image for representation purpose only.

A tech entrepreneur, who is determined to live for 180 years, claims his bizarre strategies will soon be as popular as cell phones. Dave Asprey firmly believes one of the keys to living longer is skipping breakfast. The American lifestyle guru has asserted that he can at least live to the year 2153 by using a variety of techniques, including a cold cryotherapy chamber sitting and intermittent-fasting. The 47-year-old millionaire devised the term 'Biohacking' to detail his methods of turning back the biological clock. In an effort to survive for as long, Dave has spent over $1,000,000 on hacks and techniques to improve the overall functioning of his body. He has parts of his bone marrow removed to re-inject his own stem cells back into his body.

Appearing on ITVs This Morning today, he joined host Holly Willoughby for a virtual conversation. Holly quizzed Dave why he wants to live so long, to which he replied that as a curious person, he feels there is a lot in the world that can be fixed and improved that he thinks he has not done yet. Dave confirmed that some of the things he wants to pioneer are expensive. However, there are other ways that are free of cost like fasting.

Dave also speculated that after applying his methods for longer life, people under 40 will be 'happy and highly functional' over a 100-years-old. He stated that he won't be the only one as his wife both is also racing to get to 180 years old. In comparison to others, Dave has set himself up for much less inflammation by controlling what he eats and how he sleeps, besides several other anti-ageing treatments. Explaining the benefits of reintroducing his own stem cells in his body, he said people heal when they are young. With age, the stem cells of the body get exhausted, so he opts for ways which gives him more stem cells.

Dave also follows cryotherapy, which is also known as cold therapy. It involves using low temperatures to treat a variety of tissue lesions. He is also taking cold showers for more than ten years. Dave uses another technique to live a long life known as intermittent fasting. This involves controlling the number of times that one eats meals to create periods of fasting over a certain period. According to Dave, it helps in disease prevention as fasting periods lets his body to 'repair itself' while not digesting food.

Here is the original post:
US Man Who Wants to Live for 180 Years Re-injects His Own Stem Cells, Spends Rs 87 Lakh - News18

To Read More: US Man Who Wants to Live for 180 Years Re-injects His Own Stem Cells, Spends Rs 87 Lakh – News18
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on US Man Who Wants to Live for 180 Years Re-injects His Own Stem Cells, Spends Rs 87 Lakh – News18 | dataFebruary 6th, 2021
Read All

Hypermethylation-mediated downregulation of long non-coding RNA MEG3 inhibits osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and…

By daniellenierenberg

The reduced osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is the typical characteristics of pediatric aplastic anemia (AA) pathogenesis. Long non-coding RNA MEG3 is reported to promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via inducing BMP4 expression.This study aims to investigate the mechanism of DNMT1/MEG3/BMP4 pathway in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in pediatric AA.BMSCs were isolated and purified from bone marrows of pediatric AA patients (n=5) and non-AA patients (n=5). The expression of DNMT1, MEG3, and BMP4 in isolated BMSCs was detected using quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Osteogenic differentiation was determined using Alizarin red staining. The methylation of MEG3 promoter and the interaction between DNMT1 and MEG3 promoter were detected using methylation-specific PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, respectively.Lowly expressed MEG3 and BMP4 and highly expressed DNMT1 were observed in BMSCs of pediatric AA patients. The overexpression of MEG3 promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Luciferase reporter assay showed that MEG3 overexpression increased transcriptional activity of BMP4. The inhibitor of methylation, 5-azacytidine, suppressed DNMT1 expression and reduced methylation of MEG3 promoter. Overexpression of DNMT1 increased the binding between DNMT1 and MEG3 promoter. The simultaneous overexpression of DNMT1 and MEG3 restored the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation caused by DNMT1 overexpression alone.Our findings indicated that DNMT1 mediated the hypermethylation of MEG3 promoter in BMSCs, and DNMT1/MEG3/BMP4 pathway modulated osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in pediatric AA.

PubMed

Read the original here:
Hypermethylation-mediated downregulation of long non-coding RNA MEG3 inhibits osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and...

To Read More: Hypermethylation-mediated downregulation of long non-coding RNA MEG3 inhibits osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and…
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Hypermethylation-mediated downregulation of long non-coding RNA MEG3 inhibits osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and… | dataFebruary 6th, 2021
Read All

Family ‘living worst nightmare’ as they desperately seek donor for tot with rare blood cancer – Teesside Live

By daniellenierenberg

The mum of a Stockton toddler says time is running out to find a match for her son who is battling a rare blood cancer.

Little Mason Arrowsmith, one, was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML) on Christmas Eve last year.

The condition is a rare type of slowly developing blood cancer that occurs in young children.

Although it was discovered at an early stage, doctors say Mason needs a stem cell or bone marrow transplant for the best chance of survival.

In a desperate attempted to help, his mum Katie Jordan will donate her own bone marrow later this month, but a full match is urgently needed.

"The hospital has been absolutely amazing, but unfortunately after searching worldwide there is no match for Mason due to his bone marrow being so rare," Katie said.

"We need to get him to transplant as soon as, the hospital is looking at the end of February, using me as his first donor in the hope that this will help him until we find a better match.

"I would give my life for Mason but unfortunately, I can only donate my bone marrow three times in a lifetime and Im not a full match for him.

"Children with JMML live around 12 months after diagnosis, we need to find mason a better match. Twelve months is not long enough for us to have with our boy, we are living the worst possible nightmare."

As Mason does not have a close enough match within his family - the only potential cure is through a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.

The family has now launched a 'Masons Mission' to encourage people to support blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan in raising urgent funds to add more donors to the stem cells register.

There is currently a blacklog of around 25,000 potential donors due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the charity needs to raise up to an extra 500,000 to add people to the register, from ordering more swab packs to analysing completed swabs in its laboratory.

Any one of the 25,000 people who have applied to join the Anthony Nolan could be a match for Mason or one of the 2,300 patients in the UK, who need a stem cell transplant from a donor each year.

Katie added: "We have set our target at 10,000 which does seem a lot but this would help to cover 250 registrations and kits and allow us to continue our search for my baby."

Henny Braund, Chief Executive of Anthony Nolan said: "Were doing all we can to find a stem cell donor to give Mason a second chance of life.

"A perfect storm of the coronavirus pandemic, and a surge of 40,000 incredible people who have been inspired to join the Anthony Nolan register in the last month by patients, like Mason means that were in urgent need.

"The best thing people can do is support Anthony Nolans work financially. By giving anything, together we can add all potential lifesavers to the register, and give patients like Mason hope."

Anthony Nolan recruits people aged 16-30 to the stem cell register as research has shown younger people are more likely to be chosen to donate.

They also carry out ground-breaking research to save more lives and provide information and support to patients after a stem cell transplant, through its clinical nurse specialists and psychologists, who help guide patients through their recovery.

It costs 40 to recruit each potential donor to the register, so Anthony Nolan relies on financial support.

You can support Masons Mission here.

More here:
Family 'living worst nightmare' as they desperately seek donor for tot with rare blood cancer - Teesside Live

To Read More: Family ‘living worst nightmare’ as they desperately seek donor for tot with rare blood cancer – Teesside Live
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Family ‘living worst nightmare’ as they desperately seek donor for tot with rare blood cancer – Teesside Live | dataFebruary 6th, 2021
Read All

Stem cells efficacy confirmed in treating ototoxic hearing loss – Korea Biomedical Review

By daniellenierenberg

Researchers at the Catholic University of Korea St. Marys Hospital have recently proved the efficacy of bone marrow-derived stem cells to treat ototoxicity hearing loss, the hospital said Thursday.

The team, led by Professor Park Kyoung-ho of the Department of Otolaryngology, conducted an experiment on animal models with ototoxic sensorineural hearing, or sudden hearing loss.

They utilized Catholic MASTER cells, bone marrow stem cells developed by the Catholic Institute of Cell Therapy, to compare the stem cell injection group with the controlled group.

The result showed that animals started to recover their hearing after three weeks. Five weeks later, they recovered normal hearing at 8000Hz, 16000Hz and 32000Hz frequency.

Ototoxic hearing loss is caused when a person ingests chemicals or certain medications that adversely affect the inner ear functions. Major symptoms related to the illness are dizziness, false hearing, and hearing loss, which permanently defects hearing functions. Elders with such symptoms should have medical consultations as they are a high-risk group, the hospital said.

We have proved the efficacy of our bone marrow stem cells in recovering hearing, said Professor Park, who doubles as the director of the Stem Cell Institute. Through the results, we expect to provide new treatment opportunities for patients with hearing loss.

The test results were published in the Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Original post:
Stem cells efficacy confirmed in treating ototoxic hearing loss - Korea Biomedical Review

To Read More: Stem cells efficacy confirmed in treating ototoxic hearing loss – Korea Biomedical Review
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Stem cells efficacy confirmed in treating ototoxic hearing loss – Korea Biomedical Review | dataFebruary 4th, 2021
Read All

Understanding bone marrow transplant: The guidelines and the protocols – The New Indian Express

By daniellenierenberg

The outbreak of the Covidpandemic has made many patients reluctantto undergotreatments. While their apprehension seems to overpower them, doctors need to ensure thatstrict guidelines and protocols which assure the best quality service are followed.

Among elective surgeries andtransplants, bone marrow transplant cases have increased substantially in the past few months. Adhering to guidelines for pre-transplant evaluation and the management of a common complication, graft versus host disease (GVHD)is essential.

With the diversity of practice and expertise, the following guidelines will provide a pivotal tool for learning about the rapidly updated therapy landscape in Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

The guidelines intended to provide a systematic approach for transplantation and help streamline clinical practices and educate new generations of physicians-in-training. Additionally, guidelines can help to evaluate a potential transplant recipient anddetermine if the patient is an eligible candidate for the procedure.

Types and selection of transplantation:

Selection of the type of transplantation for a patient depends on factors such as the type of malignancy, availability of a suitable donor, age of the recipient, the ability to collect a tumor-free autograft, the stage, the malignancy's susceptibility to the GVM effect, and status of disease -- bone marrow involvement, the bulk of disease, chemosensitivity to conventional chemotherapy. This method is particularly applicable for Autologous or Allogeneic Transplantation where one can have a sibling donor or a matched unrelated donor. In the case of a matched unrelated donor, ensure that the collection is adequate and stem cells are available well in time especially if they are imported from countries in Europe.

A haploidentical transplant is another type of transplant that uses healthy, blood-forming cells from a half-matched donor to replace the unhealthy ones. The ideal donor in this case is a family member.

That said, for bone marrow transplant blood products are the backbone and it is important to ensure to have adequate supply before you begin with the transplant.

What are the guidelines and protocols that can be adopted in current times?

Some measures for consideration are: Minimize face-to-face visits including monitoring and consider shifting to telehealth where feasible. Some adaptive community measures like the hospital in the home services, community practices for blood collection, imaging, and support services. For radiation oncology treatment, consider reducing fractions when supported by evidence Consider alternative and less resource-intensive treatment regimes. Minimize unnecessary visitors to cancer centers, for instance, limiting to only patients and their essential caregivers based on frailty and language needs Screen for possible symptoms of COVID-19 and triage patients for admission. If necessary, the admission has to be directed to oncology/hematology departments rather than emergency departments. Immunocompromised patients are likely to have atypical presentations of COVID-19 For suspected checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis prioritizes COVID-19 testing for an early decision regarding corticosteroid therapy.

These are some guidelines that you should heed during a bone marrow transplant. While it is imperative to be updated about the guidelines, timely intervention can reduce the other possible complications during the process.

(The author is the Director, Medical Oncology and Hemato Oncology, atFortis Cancer Institute, Bangalore)

Read the rest here:
Understanding bone marrow transplant: The guidelines and the protocols - The New Indian Express

To Read More: Understanding bone marrow transplant: The guidelines and the protocols – The New Indian Express
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Understanding bone marrow transplant: The guidelines and the protocols – The New Indian Express | dataFebruary 4th, 2021
Read All

Man who wants to live for 180 years spends Rs 18 lakh to re-inject his own stem cells – Times Now

By daniellenierenberg

Dave Asprey  |  Photo Credit: Twitter

A man who is determined to live until he is 180 years old says that his bizarre methods will soon be as popular as mobile phones. American millionaire tech entrepreneur Dave Asprey, 47, believes he will live to the year 2153 'at least' by using techniques such as sitting in a cold cryotherapy chamber and intermittent-fasting.

Dave coined the term 'Biohacking' to describe his methods of turning back the biological clock.

He got parts of his bone marrow removed to have the stem cells injected back into his body for $25,000 (Rs 18 lakh).

He speculated that people who are under 40 years of age will be "happy and highly functional" at 100 after applying his methods.

When This Morning's Holly Willoughby asked him why he wants to live so long, he replied, "I'm curious, I think there's a lot of things we can fix and improve in the world and I don't feel like I'm at all done yet."

Dave believes that he won't be the only one to be live for so long.

"The things I am working to pioneer, some of them are expensive, some of them are free like fasting. This will be like cell phones, everyone has cell phones - everyone will have anti-ageing. Change can happen rapidly in society," he said. "There will be many people who are under 40 right now who [will be] walking around under their own power, perfectly happy, highly functional, who are more than 100 years old."

Dave has spent an estimated $1 million on techniques and hacks to try and improve his body's overall functioning.

He added, "I set myself up to have much less inflammation than most people do, by controlling what I eat and how I sleep and a lot of other anti-ageing treatments."

He explained why he re-introduced his stem cells in his body, saying, "When we're young, we have a ton of stem cells and we heal like young people. As we age our stem cells get exhausted, so I do things like intermittent fasting which give me more stem cells and then I take my own stem cells and move them around the body so I heal and move like a young person."

Dave also believes in the benefits of cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, which is the use of low temperatures in medical therapy to treat a variety of tissue lesions. He has been having cold showers for over ten years.

Another technique that Dave uses to live a long life is intermittent fasting, which involves restricting times that you eat meals to create periods of fasting over a certain period.

Read the original:
Man who wants to live for 180 years spends Rs 18 lakh to re-inject his own stem cells - Times Now

To Read More: Man who wants to live for 180 years spends Rs 18 lakh to re-inject his own stem cells – Times Now
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Man who wants to live for 180 years spends Rs 18 lakh to re-inject his own stem cells – Times Now | dataFebruary 4th, 2021
Read All

World Cancer Day 2021: DKMS Announces The Milestone Of Giving 90,000 Blood Cancer Patients Worldwide A Second Chance At Life – PR Newswire India

By daniellenierenberg

- DKMS-BMST continues to urge Indians to step up to be a potential lifesaver!

BENGALURU, India, Feb. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- February 4th is marked as World Cancer day every year. This day is observed to spread awareness about the disease and its increasing burden. In line with the theme for this year "Create a futurewithout cancer. The time to act isnow", DKMS BMST Foundation India, a non-profit organization with a mission to provide a second chance at life to blood cancer and blood disorder patients in India makes an appeal to people to come forward and register as potential blood stem cell donors.

On World Cancer Day 2021, DKMS is also celebrating a milestone of providing more than 90,000 blood cancer patients across 57 countries with a second chance at life, since it was founded almost 30 years ago in 1991. DKMS is an international non-profit organization that helps provide patients with lifesaving blood stem cell transplants. DKMS has presence in India, Germany, USA, Poland, UK, Chile, and South Africa.

Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India, says, "DKMS is proud to be the world's leading donor center, accounting for nearly 30% of the total donor pool. While, this is a global milestone, when it comes to India, the fact is that the Indian donors are highly underrepresented in the global database. This is why it becomes difficult for doctors to find a matching blood stem cell donor for Indian patients. While DKMS has registered over 10.5 million donors and has provided over 90,000 patients with a second chance at life globally, it is critical to highlight that only over 43,000 Indian donors are part of this donor pool."

In India, every year, over one lakh people are diagnosed with a form of blood cancer and it remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among children. Most people are unaware that a life-threatening disease like blood cancer can be treated and in most of the cases, a stem cell transplant is the patient's only chance for survival. For instance, 15-year-old Maheer from Gujarat, India, is one of the blood cancer survivors who had received a lifesaving blood stem cell donation in 2012. He was able to find his matching blood stem cell donor, Dr. Sita, who hails from Germany. Today, he leads a normal, healthy and happy life. He is in grade 9 and loves to travel, read and swim.

Today, more than 37 million potential unrelated donors are listed worldwide with stem cell donor centers and registries, of which only 0.03% are Indians. Currently, in India, the biggest challenge is the lack of awareness about blood stem cell transplant and the importance of registering as a potential blood stem cell donor. The entire procedure is safe and secure. Once the blood stem cells are collected from a donor, they are infused into the patient through a transplant process which then moves through the bloodstream and settles in the bone marrow. These new blood stem cells begin to increase in numbers and produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, resulting in the replacement of the patient's diseased cells and that's how a blood cancer patient gets a second chance at life. This situation can only be improved by recruiting many more potential stem cell donors from India.

This World Cancer Day, one can take a pledge to become a potential lifesaver. Registration takes only 5 minutes. If one between 18 and 50 years and in good health, the first step to register as a blood stem cell donor by ordering the home swab kit at http://www.dkms-bmst.org/register.

SOURCE DKMS BMST Foundation India

Continued here:
World Cancer Day 2021: DKMS Announces The Milestone Of Giving 90,000 Blood Cancer Patients Worldwide A Second Chance At Life - PR Newswire India

To Read More: World Cancer Day 2021: DKMS Announces The Milestone Of Giving 90,000 Blood Cancer Patients Worldwide A Second Chance At Life – PR Newswire India
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on World Cancer Day 2021: DKMS Announces The Milestone Of Giving 90,000 Blood Cancer Patients Worldwide A Second Chance At Life – PR Newswire India | dataFebruary 4th, 2021
Read All

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth With Industry Study, Detailed Analysis And Forecast To 2027 …

By daniellenierenberg

Up Market Research (UMR) recently published a report entitled, the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market, describing the crucial aspects of the market by conducting an in-depth analysis of the current trend, emerging threats, and future market assessment. This report takes into account the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the market for the period of 2020-2020 and provides a detailed information about how the market will perform during the forecast period, 2020-2027. Our research team presents the report in a simplistic manner supported by fact and actual figures that will assist clients to arrive an informed decision about their investment plans and business strategies.

Request Free Exclusive Sample on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Report @ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/30593

The report provides a holistic view of the market offering key insights of the market behavior over last four years and key assessment of the future market performance. It includes a systematic analysis of historical data for the period, 2015-2020 and draws upon assessment of the market performance for the forecast period, 2020-2027 by observing 2020 as the base year. With the reference to the available data, it provides vital insights on key factors such as drivers, restrains, trends, challenges, and opportunities of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) market growth.

This report provides a comprehensive outlook on the key segments and sub-segmentations that includes the complete information about the product types, applications, end-users and regions. It offers latest information regarding the growth rate, volume, and size of the market in respect to each segment and also explains the market performance of these segments in the respective five regions. Moreover, it discusses a wide range of the emerging market scope and potential drawbacks present in the segments.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Report Includes:

The Global Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Report is segmented into:

By Types:

AllogeneicAutologous

By Applications:

Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Transplant (PBSCT)Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)Cord Blood Transplant (CBT)

By Regions:

For More Information on This Report Visit: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/30593

The report covers the competitive landscape of various major global players, their current market positions, and key business strategies adopted to mark their major footprint in the market. This includes information about the product launch, expansion of the production facilities or plants, adoption of new technologies, latest merger & acquisition, partnership, and collaboration of the key players. It furthers provides concrete information about the existing market scope for the new entrants and the current competitive levels and scenario for the emerging players in the global market.

The Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Report Covers the Following Companies:

Regen Biopharma IncChina Cord Blood CorpCBR Systems IncEscape Therapeutics IncCryo-Save AGLonza Group LtdPluristem Therapeutics IncViaCord I

Up Market Research (UMR) also offers customized report for a particular product, application, and region as per the requirement of clients and provides additional companies profiles as per the clients request.

Regarding the methodology, the report is prepared by relying on primary and secondary sources including interviews of the company executives & representatives and accessing official documents, websites, and press release of the companies related to the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) market. It also includes comments and suggestions from the experts in the market especially the representatives from government and public organizations as well as international NGOs. The report prepared by Up Market Research (UMR) is known for its data accuracy and precise style, which relies on genuine information and reliable data source. Moreover, customized report can be available as per the clients wishes or specific needs. It takes into account of various research tools and methods including predictive analysis, Porters 5 force analysis, SWOT analysis, and real-time analytics.

You can buy the complete report: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/buy/hematopoietic-stem-cell-transplantation-market

This report includes the estimation of market size in terms of value (USD) and volume (K MT), with applying top-down and bottom-up approaches to estimate and validate the overall scope of the market. The report is presented with a group of graphical representations, tables, and figures that shows a clear picture of the developments of the products and its market performance over the last few years. With this precise report, it can be easily understood the growth potential, revenue growth, product range, and pricing factors related to the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) market. This report includes information on the latest government policies, norms, and regulations that can affect the dynamics of the market.

Why you should buy this report?

This report provides a complete guideline for the clients to arrive an informed business decision since it offers a comprehensive market outlook that will help the clients to understand better of the current & future market situation.

The report answers some of these key questions given below:

If you have any questions on this report, please reach out to us: https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/30593

About Us:

UpMarketResearch is a leading publisher of market research report. With more than 800+ global clients, our motto is to help our clients with the most accurate, easy to understand and actionable market research reports.

Accuracy, prompt response, and aftermarket client consulting forms the basis of our business model. We have a large repository of market reports belonging to various verticals such as healthcare, chemicals and energy, consumer goods, automotive, IT & Telecom, food & beverages and further more.

Leveraging your business decision with accuracy and timeliness coupled with insight on market trends, size and demand are some major highlights of our research and market studies.

Contact Us:

Name: Alex Mathews

Phone No.: +1 909 545 6473

Email:[emailprotected]

Website:https://www.upmarketresearch.com

Address: 500 East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States.

https://neighborwebsj.com/

Visit link:
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth With Industry Study, Detailed Analysis And Forecast To 2027 ...

To Read More: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth With Industry Study, Detailed Analysis And Forecast To 2027 …
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Market Incredible Possibilities, Growth With Industry Study, Detailed Analysis And Forecast To 2027 … | dataFebruary 4th, 2021
Read All

Novel Bone Marrow ‘Ingredient’ To Help Arthritic Horses The Horse – TheHorse.com

By daniellenierenberg

Regenerative therapies such as stem cells and platelet-rich plasma already play an important role in managing osteoarthritis (OA). Nonetheless, veterinarians have found that response to even these therapies is less than ideal in many cases, prompting researchers to continuously seek novel therapies for this all-too-common musculoskeletal disorder. One of the newest to be unveiled is called bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMNC) therapy. One researcher who presented at the 2020 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held virtually, reported that the equine industry is in critical need for therapies that resolve joint inflammation but preserve tissue healing, and BMNC appears a promising candidate.

Much more than stem cells classically sought for cartilage healing, bone marrow is rich in macrophage progenitor cells, explained James B. Everett, DVM, MS, previously of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, who now works at the Equine Surgical Center at ThorSport Farm,in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Macrophages are a type of white blood cell that play a role in tissue repair and cartilage integrity, and produce the anti-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-10 (IL-10).

Everett said macrophages in the synovial (joint) membrane are essential for joint health, clearing aggressors, secreting key molecules required for optimal joint function, and forming a shield that protects tissues undergoing repair, similar to a wound scab. However, when the amount of tissue damage overwhelms these housekeeping functions, macrophages stimulate inflammation as a means of recruiting more cells, especially more macrophages, to cope with increased demands for repair.

If this response is efficiently accomplished, macrophages then produce, among other things, high concentrations of IL-10 and resolve the inflammatory process, returning the joint to a healthy state, he said.

Everett emphasized that not all inflammation is bad. This acute inflammation is essential to establish a resolving response, and anti-inflammatory therapies can negatively interfere.

As presented by Everetts colleague Bruno Menarim, DVM, PhD, in a separate session, studies show that BMNCs promote the endogenous resolution of experimentally induced inflammation. To see if these promising features translated to naturally occurring inflammation in live horses, Everetts research team studied 19 horses, dividing them into three treatment groups:

The selected horses were diagnosed with OA in a single joint, and the team injected those joints once with the saline, triamcinolone, or BMNCs. The BMNCs were autologous, meaning veterinarians collected them from each patients own bone marrow aspirate. They processed the aspirate in-house, and the isolated mononuclear cells, composed predominantly of macrophages, were ready to inject into the affected joint within three hours of aspiration.

We found that while objectively assessed lameness (via Lameness Locator) decreased in all three groups, it was only significant in the BMNC-treated horses, said Everett. Further, the treatment was well-tolerated with no adverse events appreciated in this study.

He said that using BMNCs can help reduce the need for chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, which produces potentially harmful consequences. Further, BMNCs preserve the production of molecules such as interleukins and cytokines that are essential for restoring joint homeostasis. Corticosteroids often inhibit these molecules.

The researchers noted that these results support a larger clinical trial using BMNCs in clinical cases of equine OA.

Original post:
Novel Bone Marrow 'Ingredient' To Help Arthritic Horses The Horse - TheHorse.com

To Read More: Novel Bone Marrow ‘Ingredient’ To Help Arthritic Horses The Horse – TheHorse.com
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Novel Bone Marrow ‘Ingredient’ To Help Arthritic Horses The Horse – TheHorse.com | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

‘Whatever it takes’: Stem cell drive underway to find bone marrow match for girl on Alta. First Nation – CTV Edmonton

By daniellenierenberg

EDMONTON -- A little girl with leukemia in northern Alberta is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.

Friends and family of 10-year-old Ameilia Powder have set up a stem cell drive to find a match.

"Asking for help is probably one of the most difficult things to do when you're in this situation and really opening your story up to everyone is really hard. but at the end of the day Ameilia needs a bone marrow match," Ameilia's grandmother Jaime Harpe said. "I'll do whatever it takes to get her that match."

Ameilia was diagnosed in March 2020 and went through five months of treatment at the Stollery Children's Hospital before returning home to Fort McKay First Nation in August.

The cancer returned late last month and this time, a bone marrow transplant is the only option to save her life.

"All people have to do is go blood.ca/stemcells and they can register online, and a kit gets sent to you in the mail," organizer Amanda Main said. "You just swab your cheek, pop it back in and you get entered in the data base, that's all you have to do."

Potential matches need to be between the ages of 17 and 35.

A GoFundMe page has already raised more than $11,000.

Follow this link:
'Whatever it takes': Stem cell drive underway to find bone marrow match for girl on Alta. First Nation - CTV Edmonton

To Read More: ‘Whatever it takes’: Stem cell drive underway to find bone marrow match for girl on Alta. First Nation – CTV Edmonton
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on ‘Whatever it takes’: Stem cell drive underway to find bone marrow match for girl on Alta. First Nation – CTV Edmonton | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

Why Cynata is hopeful its COVID treatment trial will succeed where others have failed – Business News Australia

By daniellenierenberg

Cynata Therapeutics (ASX: CYP), founded by two clever stem cell researchers and one wise Australian techpreneur, is in the process of developing a treatment for COVID-19.

Using its in-house stem cell technology Cymerus, the ASX-listed biotech hopes to treat one of the deadliest complications of COVID-19 -acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

In doing so Cynata would achieve what competitor Mesoblast (ASX: MSB) couldn't with FDA approval.

By deploying an industrialised approach to stem cell therapeutics, Cynata CEO Ross Macdonald (pictured) is confident the clinical trial process won't leave the company hamstrung.

In 1981 scientists discovered a way to derive embryonic stem cells from early mouse embryos.

The discovery thrilled scientists, and eventually led to the development of a method to do the same in lab-grown human embryos by 1998.

While there have been plenty of discussions surrounding the ethics of using of embryonic stem cells, these major scientific movements have pushed researchers to discover new and inventive ways of treating a whole raft of diseases and infections.

One such researcher, Dr Ian Dixon, saw potential for the use of mesenschymal stem cells (MSCs) - a type of stem cell that can differentiate into a variety of cell types enabling the treatment of many diseases and infections.

However there was still an obstacle to overcome: how do you mass produce enough cells needed to commercialise a treatment?

Luckily, two researchers at the University of Wisconson, Professor Igor Slukvin and Dr Maksym Vodyanik, had invented a biotechnological breakthrough called Cymerus.

The technology was able to do exactly what Dixon needed: the consistent manufacture of MSCs on an ultra-large scale; basically what Henry Ford did to the industrialisation of the auto industry, but for stem cells.

So in 2003 Dixon partnered with the two researchers to start Cynata - now an ASX-listed biotechnology company trialing a number of different treatments for a wide variety of ailments.

Most recently, Cynata's focus has been on developing a treatment for a complication of COVID-19 called acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The complication ravages COVID-19 infected patients, destroying their organs through what is known as a cytokine storm. The complication is estimated to kill up to half of COVID-19 patients that suffer from it.

Melbourne-based Cynata is currently in the very early stages of its investigation into whether its MSCs will be able to treat the coronavirus complication overwhelming hospitals globally.

If this all sounds familiar, you might be thinking of another ASX-listed biotech called Mesoblast (ASX: MSB).

In March last year Mesoblast, also based in Melbourne, saw its shares surge after announcing plans to evaluate its stem cell treatment solutions on COVID-19 patients.

The group commenced the arduous clinical trial process to see if its remestemcel-L therapy could treat ARDS by using bone marrow aspirate from healthy donors - a similar approach the company had already taken to treat a condition many suffer from after receiving bone marrow transplants.

Mesoblast was riding high on the ASX following positive announcements surrounding the clinical traila process, especially back in April 2020 when a trial at New York City's Mt Sinai hospital found its remestemcel-L therpay achieved "remarkable" results.

Serious attention gathered around Mesoblast, with the company even securing $138 in funds from investors to continue its important research.

The company went so far as to sign a commercialisation deal for the COVID-19 treatment with Novartis, and the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) fast tracked the approvals process for the potential game-changing treatment.

However, in December 2020, Mesoblast hit a stumbling block.

Mesoblast's COVID-19 treatment flunked the test - its remestemcel-L therapy failed to show a lower mortality rate for patients in the prescribed 30-day timeframe of treatment.

At that point Cynata had commenced research into its own ARDS treatment. But did Mesoblast's failure unnerve Cynata CEO Ross Macdonald? Not a chance.

"I'm more confident that our trial will be successful where theirs was a failure," Macdonald said.

"If you use a process like we have developed - we don't rely on multiple different [stem cell] donations. You start with exactly the same material every time."

To explain, Macdonald used the analogy of a local caf; you normally expect a coffee from one caf to taste more or less exactly the same every time you go there - the same beans are used every time.

Whereas Macdonald said Mesoblast's process is like going to the same caf every day, but each visit they use different beans from a different supplier which leads to inconsistency in taste and flavour.

Cynata's approach with its MSCs is in line with the first example - what you get the first time from them will be replicated in each and every dose of the drug - while MSB's is like the latter.

"Yes, you still got the coffee, but the experience of the taste is totally different than it was yesterday," he said.

"The FDA said to Mesoblast, well you've got a manufacturing problem that is reliant upon multiple donors prepared to donate bone marrow and that is flawed.

"So with that in mind it's perhaps not surprising that they had a pretty disappointing result in the clinical trials."

Additionally, Macdonald said the initial investor reactions to MSB's early COVID-19 trail results were overblown.

"The initial data from their trial that got everybody excited was, in my view, quite flawed, because they said "look at how many patients are dying in intensive care units with COVID compared the patients that we treated," he said.

"But the reality of the situation was quite different. The control group at that time - the death rate was way, way higher than you would typically see for ARDS, whether its COVID or anything else. And it was simply because of the chaos that existed in intensive care units in New York in the first wave.

"So we think that the initial enthusiasm was perhaps a little misguided."

When asked why Mesoblast is receiving so much attention compared to Cynata, especially considering the above, Macdonald said it was simply because MSB is bigger and has been around for longer. For context, MSB has a market capitalisation of $1.46 billion, whereas Cynata's is just $94.56 million.

"I'd love to know why there is less attention, and how we can get our market cap above a billion dollars," joked Macdonald.

"I think the answer though is that they've been around for a lot longer than we have, they have spent a hell of a lot more money than we've spent - their monthly spend is more than we've spent for pretty much our entire existence.

"But I think the fundamental reason why is that data drives value in biotech, so the more clinical data you generate that shows your product works, the more attention you attract from investors."

That's not to say Cynata is being totally ignored in favour of the larger Mesoblast.

The company secured a $15 million placement led by $10 million from healthcare investor BioScience Managers in December.

The funds will be used to expand Cynata's clinical development pipeline and scale their operations in Australia.

As such, the company is preparing to expand its clinical development pipeline to include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, renal transplantation, and diabetic foot ulcers.

"So we're starting to garner that attention now that says two things - one, cell therapies are definitely a medical revolution and two, Cynata is part of that new generation of companies," Macdonald said.

As for the company's pipeline, in addition to the COVID treatment trials, Cynata is planning on launching three new clinical candidates that will get under way this year.

There's also Cynata's osteoarthritis trial, which Macdonald describes as significant for the biotech company; with 2 million patients in Australia and 30 million in the United States the company is hoping to tap into an $11 billion plus addressable market.

"It will ultimately show whether MSCs are useful in that particularly devastating condition," he said.

"It doesn't just affect people who want to go and play golf or tennis, it affects, particularly manual labourers who can no longer work.

"So the cost to the economy of osteoarthritis is quite significant, which is of course one of the reasons why the Australian Government is funding this trial."

Never miss a news update, subscribe here. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

Business News Australia

More here:
Why Cynata is hopeful its COVID treatment trial will succeed where others have failed - Business News Australia

To Read More: Why Cynata is hopeful its COVID treatment trial will succeed where others have failed – Business News Australia
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Why Cynata is hopeful its COVID treatment trial will succeed where others have failed – Business News Australia | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

Helping others helps Havard through sickness | Community | hannapub.com – The Franklin Sun

By daniellenierenberg

As an athlete, Courtlynn Havard has always set goals for herself to improve her game whether on the soccer or softball field. She has worked toward those goals through hard work and perseverance.

Now her goals have shifted slightly.

Courtlynn, a sophomore at Franklin Parish High School, currently has two main goals: to beat aplastic anemia and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and to help others.

Helping others for Courtlynn brightens her day, strengthens her and gives her hope for a better tomorrow.

From that desire to help others, the Havard family is sponsoring a bone marrow drive at Life Church in Winnsboro Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The drive will be administered by DKMS, an international nonprofit organization, whose goal is to find bone marrow donors for people like Havard.

It is simple as a swab in your cheek, said Jaimie Havard, Courtlynns mother. That could save a life. It only takes a minute and is so easy for you to give somebody a second chance on life.

Anyone 18-55 with good health can participate in the drive. Participates stay in their car, watch a video on their phone and fill out a short form, said Amy Roseman of DMKS.

They are given a kit with a swap for their cheeks. The whole process takes 7-10 minutes.

Interested people can also go to dkms.org to order a free kit.

In October, Courtlynn went to the doctor with kidney stones. When doctors took her blood, they found her blood count was low.

Her mother and Courtlynn met with an oncologist who gave them disturbing news.

At first the oncologist thought it was leukemia, Jaimie said. You feel like your whole world is collapsing. I didnt know what to say or do. Courtlynn was devastated and crying. I was trying to be strong for her.

The Havards were then sent to LSU Health Shreveport. The medical professionals there performed a bone marrow biopsy and found she had aplastic anemia and PNH.

You never think it can be your child, Jaimie said. It is really an unbelievable, indescribable feeling.

Aplastic anemia is a condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition leaves a person fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding.

A rare and serious condition, aplastic anemia can develop at any age. It can occur suddenly, or it can come on slowly and worsen over time and can be mild or severe.

Treatment for aplastic anemia might include medications, blood transfusions or a stem cell transplant, also known as a bone marrow transplant.

PNH is a rare acquired, life-threatening disease of the blood. The disease is characterized by destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), blood clots (thrombosis), and impaired bone marrow function (not making enough of the three blood components).

PNH affects 1-1.5 persons per million of the population and is primarily a disease of younger adults. The median age of diagnosis is 35-40 years of age, with occasional cases diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. PNH is closely related to aplastic anemia.

Courtynns world use to evolve around sports, mud riding with her friends and being very social.

Now because of her weak immune system, she has to be careful and stay at home with her English Spaniel, Old Mack, and go to school virtually. Courtlynn talks to her friends via cell phone, computer and occasionally gets a visit from one that sits on her porch while she socially distances.

I missed my friends the most, Courtlynn said. I am one of those people that get up and go. I dont stay still.

She also goes to doctors whether it be locally to get her blood count tested, or Shreveport to receive platelets and blood or Memphis to St. Judes.

Saving people around the world

One thing that drives Courtlynn through this situation is keeping up with other kids situations, Jaimie said. There are so many stories out there of kids looking for bone marrow transplants.

The Feb. 20 bone marrow drive is a way Courtlynn and her family can help others.

DKMS has been finding matching bone marrow donors for 30 years. They are now in the United States, Germany, Poland, India and South Africa.

Sadly, only 2 percent of Americans have signed up as potential donors, Roseman said. We are hoping we will have really nice support for Courtlynn and the other patients looking for donors.

Reasons vary for the low percentage of potential donors, but Roseman attributes not knowing the need and ease of the process.

You fill out contact information, swap your cheeks and you are put in a data base that is only seen by medical teams searching for donors, Roseman said. We call it, youre a hero in waiting.

The biggest misconception is the donation of bone marrow if you are a match.

You are asked to donate stem cells from the blood stream, Roseman said. It is a very easy process. It is very similar to donating plasma or platelets and takes a morning or afternoon.

Blood is taken from one arm, and the blood is put back into the other arm, Roseman, said. Stem cells lost in the process will regenerate.

You have given someone a second chance in life, Roseman said.

A person may be asked to donate actual bone marrow if he or she is matched to a three year old or younger. This procedure is done in a hospital and takes less than an hour. DKMS pays for the hospital visit and time loss from work.

It is amazing to think about giving someone a second chance on life by giving up a just morning of your time, Roseman said.

A community comes together

The Franklin Parish community has come together in support of Courtlynn and the Havard family.

Boutique shops, individuals and restaurants have come together to raise money for her cause.

During the Feb. 20 bone marrow drive at Life Church a BBQ chicken plate lunch will be on sale for $10. T-shirts will also be on sale at the event. Keep up with all drives and Courtlynns journey on her Facebook page: Courtlynns Compass.

We have a really amazing group of friends and family that have come together, Jaimie said. Our local community has stepped up big time. Complete strangers are showing so much love and support for my baby. It speaks volumes for our little town we live in.

More:
Helping others helps Havard through sickness | Community | hannapub.com - The Franklin Sun

To Read More: Helping others helps Havard through sickness | Community | hannapub.com – The Franklin Sun
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Helping others helps Havard through sickness | Community | hannapub.com – The Franklin Sun | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

Anti-Emetic Drug Effectively Blocks CD93 Signaling in Preclinical Evaluations, Suggesting Suitability in CML – Cancer Therapy Advisor

By daniellenierenberg

The anti-emetic agent metoclopramide blocked CD93 signaling in cell culture and delayed leukemia development in mice, according to data from a preclinical study published in Cell Reports. The results indicate that CD93 signaling, which is an important regulator of self-renewal and proliferation of murine and human leukemia stem cells (LSCs), could be a potential therapeutic target for the elimination of LSCs in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

To characterize the function of CD93 in CML, the researchers first demonstrated that all subsets of LSCs expressed CD93 while more differentiated leukemia granulocytes did not. Though CD93 was shown to encourage self-renewal and proliferation of murine and human LSCs, it notably had no such effect on hematopoietic stem cells.

In an experiment, the investigators injected mice with LSCs that were either proficient or deficient in CD93. Mice with CD93-deficient LSCs were found to incorporate bromodeoxyuridine, which is used to detect proliferating cells, at a lower rate than mice with CD93-proficient LSCs. The finding suggests that proliferation of LSCs is impaired when CD93 is absent.

Next, a drug library was used to screen for compounds that could block CD93 signaling. Among the 240 compounds evaluated in vitro, 10 blocked CD93 signaling; one of the compounds was the anti-emetic agent metoclopramide.

Mice were then treated with either vehicle or metoclopramide. Notably, metoclopramide-treated mice had delayed leukemia development and lived longer than vehicle-treated mice. Among the metoclopramide-receiving mice, most genes were downregulated in the LSCs, particularly genes that promote stem cell maintenance and myeloid differentiation, cell proliferation and survival, response to cytokine signaling, and gene expression.

In vitro exposure to metoclopramide was found to disrupt colony formation in human bone marrow CML stem/progenitor cells. A control experiment showed that metoclopramide had no effect on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from humans with healthy bone marrow.

The study authors reasoned that because metoclopramide is a very well-tolerated and cheap anti-emetic drug, its LSC-eradicating activity in patients with CML can be directly tested in clinical drug repurposing studies.

Reference

Riether C, Radpour B, Kallen NM, et al. Metoclopramide treatment blocks CD93-signaling-mediated self-renewal of chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells. Cell Rep. 2021;34(4):108663. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108663

See the article here:
Anti-Emetic Drug Effectively Blocks CD93 Signaling in Preclinical Evaluations, Suggesting Suitability in CML - Cancer Therapy Advisor

To Read More: Anti-Emetic Drug Effectively Blocks CD93 Signaling in Preclinical Evaluations, Suggesting Suitability in CML – Cancer Therapy Advisor
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on Anti-Emetic Drug Effectively Blocks CD93 Signaling in Preclinical Evaluations, Suggesting Suitability in CML – Cancer Therapy Advisor | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

[Full text] Retrospective Study on Implantation of Autologous-Cultured Osteoblasts | ORR – Dove Medical Press

By daniellenierenberg

Introduction

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a progressive disorder that causes pain and often progresses to hip joint collapse, finally resulting in disabling arthritis.1,2 It occurs between 30 to 50 years of age, and prevails at a relatively younger age in Asians compared to their western counterparts.3 It is estimated that approximately 20,00030,000 new cases of osteonecrosis are diagnosed in the United States each year, accounting for 10% of total hip arthroplasties performed.4 The Indian Society of Hip and Knee Surgeons has reported that more than 50% of all hip replacements in India are performed for osteonecrosis.5 Many studies have reported osteonecrosis to be more prevalent in men compared to women (3 or 5:1).3 The underlying pathophysiology of osteonecrosis remains unclear; however, it is multifactorial and several traumatic and nontraumatic etiological factors may contribute to its development. Traumatic events that may cause osteonecrosis include femoral neck/head fracture, hip dislocation, or slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Nontraumatic factors include use of steroids, alcoholism, metabolic disorders such as Cushings syndrome, and inherited disorders such as sickle cell disease.6,7 Besides the known traumatic and nontraumatic causes, some cases of osteonecrosis are idiopathic.1,8

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head may progress to secondary arthritis, and degeneration of articulating surface from advanced osteonecrosis necessitates total hip arthroplasty (THA). A primary treatment target of osteonecrosis of femoral head is to delay/prevent progression to osteoarthritis. Core decompression (CD) is the most widely used procedure in clinical practice; however, it has shown poor clinical outcomes, with up to 40% of patients having to undergo THA despite undergoing core decompression procedure.8 Therefore, a more pathophysiological approach may be required to treat osteonecrosis of femoral head. Osteonecrosis is characterized by a reduction in the osteogenic progenitor cells, an increase in osteoblast death, and altered intramedullary vascular supply due to trauma.1 It was observed that the number and function of mesenchymal cells in hematopoietic tissue and stroma of the bone marrow decreased in osteonecrosis patients.2 This observation indicated potential for using bone marrow stromal cells for the treatment of osteonecrosis, and consequently, several clinical studies have demonstrated encouraging results.2 A meta-analysis also showed that treatment with cell therapy compared to core decompression alone increased Harris hip score, decreased necrotic area of femoral head and collapse of femoral head, and reduced THA conversion rate.9 However, a recent randomized study has shown that bone marrow cell implantation in addition to core decompression did not improve THA conversion rate in patients with grade 3 osteonecrosis.10 The ideal treatment goal for osteonecrosis is to facilitate new bone formation in the place of dead bone that can provide pain relief, cease disease progression, prevent joint collapse, and preserve the joint. The fact thatbone marrow aspirate consists of mesenchymal stem cells raised a possibility if bone marrow cells could be differentiated into bone forming cells or osteoblasts and characterized by bone alkaline phosphatase. In a randomized trial, autologous osteoblast implantation was shown to significantly delay the evolution to subchondral fracture and reduce pain compared to bone marrow aspirate.11

OSSGROW (Regrow Biosciences Pvt Ltd., Mumbai, India) is a commercially available technology that involves implantation of autologous adult live-cultured osteoblasts (AALCO) derived from mesenchymal stem cells sourced from the bone marrow aspirate for osteonecrosis of the hip that received conditional marketing approval in India in March 2017.12 Here, we evaluated the efficacy of OSSGROW implantation technique by assessing retrospective data from patients with osteonecrosis who underwent the procedure. We also evaluated the correlation between Ficat-Arlet stages of osteonecrosis and clinical outcomes of the AALCO implantation procedure.

This retrospective, observational, non-comparative study was conducted at 37 centers in India. We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head who had undergone OSSGROW (AALCO) from 2010 to 2015. Key inclusion criteria were patients aged 12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of osteonecrosis in one or both hip joints who had undergone AALCO implantation. Diagnosis, analysis, and classification of osteonecrosis were done according to Ficat-Arlet based on radiography, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Patients whose medical records were not complete or were lost to follow-up were excluded from the study.

The protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee - Regrow Biosciences Pvt Ltd. and as this study was a retrospective study, informed consent was not required to review medical records. We also sought permission from the head of the institutes/departments before data collection. Patient data confidentiality was maintained in this study.

All the patients had undergone AALCO implantation on the recommendation of their consulting orthopedic surgeon after having received an explanation of the complications of osteonecrosis, the therapeutic options available, and the risks involved with the implantation procedure. Osteoblasts from patients were obtained from bone marrow aspiration from the posterior/superior iliac crest. Mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow were isolated and differentiated ex vivo into osteoblasts. Osteoblasts were then cultured for approximately 4 weeks under stringent laboratory conditions and multiplied up to 48 million osteoblasts (Figure 1). The cultured cells were implanted using a gel (Tisseel kit from Baxter) at the site of osteonecrosis through a minimally invasive surgery in a 3-step procedure: core decompression, curettage, and injection of osteoblasts (Figure 2).

Figure 1 Microscopic image of osteoblast in culture used for the final cell product before cell implantation.

Figure 2 Steps of osteoblasts implantation. (A) Step 1 Insertion of guide wire in center of lesion as identified on the MRI. (B) Step 2 Guide wire and 8mm cannulated drill for core decompression. The entry point of the guide wire is near the vastus ridge, to prevent a fracture due to stress-riser, greater width of femur and faster healing due to cancellous bone. (C) Step 3 Curettage: a variety of angulated curettes is used to do forage (curettage to remove necrotic bone). This bone is sent for biopsy.

Patients were operated on under spinal anesthesia. Core decompression tunnels were created into the subchondral necrotic lesion of the femoral head, approximately 23 mm away from the joint cartilage, by using 2.0-mm K-wires under fluoroscopic guidance through the greater trochanter and the femoral neck, and over drilled using trephine was performed by the centrally positioned K-wire. Cultured osteoblasts were injected following the curettage, and necrotic tissues were removed.

The patients had to undergo appropriate rehabilitation therapy after the implantation, which included complete bed-rest for 4 weeks post-implantation. After 4 weeks, passive lower limb exercises were performed for 2 weeks following post-implantation. Accordingly, non-weight bearing, partial weight bearing, and full weight bearing exercises were suggested as per the study protocol. Descriptive demographic and clinical data recorded before and after the procedure were collected from patient records. Past medical history, concomitant medications, and surgical treatments undertaken before and after the AALCO were recorded. Pre-existing risk factors for osteonecrosis such as steroid intake, alcohol consumption, comorbid conditions, or trauma were also noted.

Improvement in functional capacity and pain reduction were evaluated using Harris Hip Score (HHS) and visual analog scale (VAS) respectively at the time of pre- and post-operative consultations. Continued use of steroids or alcohol consumption after undergoing the AALCO implantation was recorded. The main outcome of the study was the need for THA (THA conversion rate). Based on these parameters, the treatment outcome was determined to be either improved (better score after AALCO implantation), stable (same condition as before AALCO implantation), or progressive (worse scores following AALCO implantation).

Continuous and quantitative variables were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared using Students t-test or nonparametric test, as applicable. Categorical data were presented as frequency count (n) and percentages (%) and were compared using the 2 test or Fishers exact test. P-values <0.05 were considered significant. All analyses were performed using the SPSS version 10.0.

Data from 64 patients were collected and analyzed as per the study protocol, and 101 hip joints were assessed. The age of patients ranged from 1270 years and BMI ranged from 20.632 kg/m2. The majority of the patients were men (79.7%). The mean duration since diagnosis of osteonecrosis was 7.4 1.6 years and the mean duration of AALCO treatment was 6.3 1.4 years (Table 1). Unilateral involvement of the hip joint was seen in 42.2% of cases. Bilateral involvement of hip joints was seen in 57.8% of patients. The majority of hips diagnosed were grade III (42.1%) and grade IV osteonecrosis (10.5%). While the exact cause for osteonecrosis was not known (idiopathic) in 25% of patients, 35.9% of cases were linked to steroid use and 26.6% to alcohol abuse. Records of concomitant medications revealed that 91.9% of patients were on analgesics, 8.1% were on ayurvedic treatment, and 1 patient took bisphosphonate.

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics

A total of 98 hip joints were assessed as data of 3 patients were not available for changes in mean VAS scores (improvement in pain), before and after the AALCO implantation. As shown in Figure 3A, the mean VAS score reduced significantly after a mean 6.3 years of AALCO treatment compared to the baseline (32.2 32.1 vs 58.8 13.8; mean difference: 26.5 35.2, p = 0.001) indicating significant improvement in pain. Similarly, HHS also improved post-operatively (47.1 12.3 vs 63.7 27.7; mean difference: 16.7 28.7, p = 0.001) showing functional improvement of patients. We categorized patients based on their HSS score (<70: poor, 7080: fair, 8090: good, 90100: excellent). At baseline, 96 hips (98%) had HSS score of <70, each of the two remaining hips had scores of <80 and <90, respectively. Improvement in HSS scores was seen at follow-up with 42 hips (43.3%) with HSS <70, 11 (11.3%) with 7080, 26 (26.8%) with 8090, and 18 (18.6%) with HSS scores of 90100.

Figure 3 (A) Changes in visual analog scale (VAS) and Harris hip scores. (B) Need for hip replacement surgery in different grades of osteonecrosis. (Osteonecrosis graded according to Association Research Circulation Osseous criteria).

The mean follow-up period since diagnosis of osteonecrosis was 6.3 years (range 49 years). Following AALCO treatment, 29 (28.7%) hips underwent THA, indicating that AALCO treatment could prevent and delay THA for 71.3% of hips. The mean time to THA was 3.2 2.0 years (range: 19 years). A total of 9 (39.1%) grade II, 11 (47.8%) grade III, and 3 (13%) grade IV hip joints required THA surgery (Figure 3B). In other words, AALCO treatment could delay THA for up to 3 years in 80% of hips in early stage osteonecrosis (Grades I and II) and 72% of hips in late stage osteonecrosis (Grades III and IV). Univariate analysis showed that the age of the patient, BMI, gender of patients, the side of osteonecrosis, and duration of disease had no effect on the clinical success of the procedure. Following AALCO treatment, 35.9% of patients continued using steroids and 29.7% continued with alcohol consumption. Of the total 29 hip joints that required surgery at follow-up, 20.7% and 41.4% had an associated etiology of alcohol consumption and steroid intake, respectively (Figure 4A). Overall, a significantly greater number of patients with underlying etiologies of alcohol consumption, smoking, or taking steroids required THA compared to those without these etiologies (14 [37.8%] vs 3 [11.1%], p = 0.017).

Figure 4 (A) Need for hip replacement stratified as per etiology of osteonecrosis. (B) Overall outcome stratified as per the grades of osteonecrosis.

Abbreviations: RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SLE, systemic lupus erythematous.

Based on the pre- and post-operative data, the condition of 65.6% of patients improved and 1.6% remained stable following AALCO treatment. Overall, the condition of 65.9% of hips (56/85) in grade I to grade III improved (Figure 4B). For quick reference, the pre- and post-operative radiograph images for a given patient are presented in Figure 5.

Figure 5 Pre- and posttransplantation MRI and X-ray images (A): pre-operative MRI (male patient [35 years]): Ficat and Arlet Stage II B with a subchondral fracture of right hip with a large anterolateral lesion(arrow) involving more than 40% of femoral head and less than 2mm depression at high risk of collapse. Etiology is post steroid AVN. (B) Post-operative MRI at 5 months post-surgery. (C) Post-operative X-ray at 4 years after surgery; anteroposterior (AP) view and lateral view.

We retrospectively studied the clinical outcomes of AALCO treatment. Our results showed that there was a reduction in pain and improvement in joint function following AALCO implantation, as was evident from a statistically significant reduction in the mean VAS score and increase in the HHS score. Of all the hips that underwent the AALCO implantation, 60% improved and 38% worsened with a THA conversion rate of 28%.

AALCO is a minimally invasive, surgical 3-step procedure with each step contributing significantly to the overall effectiveness of the treatment. The first step is core decompression that reduces pressure allowing increased blood flow. In the second step, the necrotic bone is debrided by a curette that promotes new bone formation. The third and most important step is implantation of osteoblasts that form new bone. The THA conversion rate is reported lower with core decompression compared to natural progression of disease, but approximately 40% of patients still required THA.8 Bone marrow cell therapy was shown to improve the THA conversion rate further.9 In a recent randomized trial, implantation of autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate did not show any improvement in patients with grade 3 osteonecrosis.10 In our study, AALCO implantation avoided THA in 72% of hips in late grade osteonecrosis, suggesting that the technique may even benefit patients in advanced stages of disease; however, our results are limited by the relatively small numbers of patients belonging to each stage.

The differences in the THA conversion may not be directly comparable to those with others may be due to the diversity in the presentation of patients, differences in the follow-up period, or the AALCO technique.13,14 The THA conversion rate certainly remains low with AALCO treatment compared to 75% THA conversion rate reported in patients with natural progression to osteoarthritis resulting from osteonecrosis of the femoral head.15,16 A randomized study found autologous osteoblastic cells implantation to be more efficacious than bone marrow implantation as an adjunct to core decompression. The disease progression rate was found to be 20% in patients who had undergone autologous osteoblasts implantation vs 47% in patients in the bone marrow implantation group.11 Bone alkaline phosphatase-characterized osteoblasts have better regenerative potential compared to heterogeneous bone marrow cells.17,18 Use of these characterized cells could explain the favorable outcomes of AALCO implantation in our study.

Intake of alcohol and/or steroids is known to adversely affect bone renewal by causing an imbalance between the normal progenitor cells and the fat-storing bone marrow progenitor cells.1,19,20 The latter phenotype also leads to fat embolism and arteriosclerosis reducing the blood supply to necrotic tissues.1,19,20 In our study, alcohol and steroid intake were associated with occurrence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in more than a quarter of patients. These results highlight the adverse impact of alcohol and steroid intake on the progression of osteonecrosis that is already evident in the literature in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis.2125 As expected, THA conversion rate was also higher among patients who consumed alcohol and/or used steroids compared to those who did not in our study, signifying the adverse impact of alcohol and steroids on the AALCO treatment outcomes. However, a consensus on the specific mechanisms leading to these observations is yet to be reached.

A major limitation of our study was the retrospective data collection, and the lack of assessments of radiographic progression of the affected hips.

The results of this study substantiate the therapeutic potential for AALCO in improving clinical outcomes in terms of pain and functional activity, and reducing the risk of disease progression and the need for THA in patients with osteonecrosis. However, this study was limited by the small sample size and the retrospective data collection limiting the power of study for some subgroup comparisons. Further, clinical studies and long-term trials are warranted to confirm the findings of this study.

Authors acknowledge CBCC Global Research for providing medical writing and submission support funded by Regrow Biosciences Pvt. Ltd.

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

1. Hernigou P, Poignard A, Zilber S, Rouard H. Cell therapy of hip osteonecrosis with autologous bone marrow grafting. Indian J Orthop. 2009;43(1):4045. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.45322

2. Gangji V, Hauzeur J-P, Matos C, De Maertelaer V, Toungouz M, Lambermont M. Treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head with implantation of autologous bone-marrow cells: a pilot study. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004;86(6):11531160. doi:10.2106/00004623-200406000-00006

3. Vardhan H, Tripathy SK, Sen RK, Aggarwal S, Goyal T. Epidemiological profile of femoral head osteonecrosis in the North Indian population. Indian J Orthop. 2018;52(2):140146. doi:10.4103/ortho.IJOrtho_292_16

4. Moya-Angeler J, Gianakos AL, Villa JC, Ni A, Lane JM. Current concepts on osteonecrosis of the femoral head. World J Orthop. 2015;6(8):590601. doi:10.5312/wjo.v6.i8.590

5. ISHKS registry. Available from: http://www.ishks.com/pdf/ISHKS-registry-2019.pdf. Accessed December 17, 2020. 2019.

6. Xie XH, Wang XL, Yang HL, Zhao DW, Qin L. Steroid-associated osteonecrosis: epidemiology, pathophysiology, animal model, prevention, and potential treatments (an overview). J Orthop Translat. 2015;3(2):5870. doi:10.1016/j.jot.2014.12.002

7. Jaffr C, Rochefort GY. Alcohol-induced Osteonecrosisdose and duration effects. Int J Exp Pathol. 2012;93(1):7879. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2613.2011.00798_1.x

8. Houdek MT, Wyles CC, Martin JR, Sierra RJ. Stem cell treatment for avascular necrosis of the femoral head: current perspectives. Stem Cells Cloning. 2014;7:6570. doi:10.2147/SCCAA.S36584

9. Xu S, Zhang L, Jin H, et al. Autologous stem cells combined core decompression for treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head: a systematic meta-analysis. Biomed Res Int. 2017;2017:6136205. doi:10.1155/2017/6136205

10. Hauzeur JP, De Maertelaer V, Baudoux E, Malaise M, Beguin Y, Gangji V. Inefficacy of autologous bone marrow concentrate in stage three osteonecrosis: a randomized controlled double-blind trial. Int Orthop. 2018;42(7):14291435. doi:10.1007/s00264-017-3650-8

11. Hauzeur JP, Toungouz M, Lechanteur C, et al. Autologous osteoblastic cells (PREOBy) versus concentrated bone marrow implantation in osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a randomized study. Revue de Chirurgie Orthopdique et Traumatologique. 2016;102(7):S73. doi:10.1016/j.rcot.2016.08.002

12. Cuende N, Rasko JEJ, Koh MB, Dominici M, Ikonomou L. Cell, tissue and gene products with marketing authorization in 2018 worldwide. Cytotherapy. 2018;20(11):14011413. doi:10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.09.010

13. Pepke W, Kasten P, Beckmann NA, Janicki P, Egermann M. Core decompression and autologous bone marrow concentrate for treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis: a randomized prospective study. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2016;8(1):6162. doi:10.4081/or.2016.6162

14. Zhao D, Cui D, Wang B, et al. Treatment of early stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head with autologous implantation of bone marrow-derived and cultured mesenchymal stem cells. Bone. 2012;50(1):325330. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2011.11.002

15. Hernigou P, Habibi A, Bachir D, Galacteros F. The natural history of asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in adults with sickle cell disease. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(12):25652572. doi:10.2106/00004623-200612000-00002

16. Tomaru Y, Yoshioka T, Sugaya H, et al. Ten-year results of concentrated autologous bone marrow aspirate transplantation for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a retrospective study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019;20(1):410. doi:10.1186/s12891-019-2797-4

17. Birmingham E, Niebur G, McHugh PE. Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells is regulated by osteocyte and osteoblast cells in a simplified bone niche. Eur Cell Mater. 2012;23:1327. doi:10.22203/eCM.v023a02

18. Prins H-J, Braat AK, Gawlitta D, et al. In vitro induction of alkaline phosphatase levels predicts in vivo bone forming capacity of human bone marrow stromal cells. Stem Cell Res. 2014;12(2):428440. doi:10.1016/j.scr.2013.12.001

19. Cui Q, Wang GJ, Balian G. Steroid-induced adipogenesis in a pluripotential cell line from bone marrow. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1997;79(7):10541063. doi:10.2106/00004623-199707000-00012

20. Hernigou P, Beaujean F, Lambotte J. Decrease in the mesenchymal stem-cell pool in the proximal femur in corticosteroid-induced osteonecrosis. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999;81(2):349355. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.81B2.0810349

21. Sakaguchi M, Tanaka T, Fukushima W, Kubo T, Hirota Y. Impact of oral corticosteroid use for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a nationwide multicenter case-control study in Japan. J Orthop Sci. 2010;15(2):185191. doi:10.1007/s00776-009-1439-3

22. Kubo T, Ueshima K, Saito M, Ishida M, Arai Y, Fujiwara H. Clinical and basic research on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in Japan. J Orthop Sci. 2016;21(4):407413. doi:10.1016/j.jos.2016.03.008

23. Cooper C, Steinbuch M, Stevenson R, Miday R, Watts N. The epidemiology of osteonecrosis: findings from the GPRD and THIN databases in the UK. Osteoporos Int. 2010;21(4):569577. doi:10.1007/s00198-009-1003-1

24. Fukushima W, Fujioka M, Kubo T, Tamakoshi A, Nagai M, Hirota Y. Nationwide epidemiologic survey of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(10):27152724. doi:10.1007/s11999-010-1292-x

25. Kang JS, Park S, Song JH, Jung YY, Cho MR, Rhyu KH. Prevalence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a nationwide epidemiologic analysis in Korea. J Arthroplasty. 2009;24(8):11781183. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2009.05.022

Read more:
[Full text] Retrospective Study on Implantation of Autologous-Cultured Osteoblasts | ORR - Dove Medical Press

To Read More: [Full text] Retrospective Study on Implantation of Autologous-Cultured Osteoblasts | ORR – Dove Medical Press
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on [Full text] Retrospective Study on Implantation of Autologous-Cultured Osteoblasts | ORR – Dove Medical Press | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

India Stem Cell Market speedy growth at US$ 1.27 Bn by 2028 with Thermofisher Scientific India, Pluristem Technologies, Becton Dickinson Private…

By daniellenierenberg

India Stem Cell Market to surpass huge revenue of USD 1.27 Billion at CAGR +13% by 2028.

Stem cell therapy in India helps in treating several diseases, including leukaemia, lymphoma, thalassemia, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, etc. Stem cell therapy in India has shown promising results in India and as well as all over the world.

In comparison, in India it costs INR 10-20 lakh in private hospitals, while in government hospitals it is much cheaper INR 3-6 lakh depending on the type of procedure, he said

On average, private banking of stem cells derived from cord blood costs INR 50,000-70,000. Banks claim to freeze the cells in liquid nitrogen so that it can be used up to 20 years from the date of preservation.

Researchers hope stem cells will one day be effective in the treatment of many medical conditions and diseases. But unproven stem cell treatments can be unsafe so get all of the facts if youre considering any treatment. Stem cells have been called everything from cure-alls to miracle treatments.

Request a sample copy of report @ https://www.reportconsultant.com/request_sample.php?id=80360

Key players profiled in the report includes:

Thermofisher Scientific India Pvt. Ltd., Pluristem Technologies Ltd., Becton Dickinson Private Limited, Stem Cell Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., Merck Lifescience Pvt. Ltd., Cordlife India Pvt. Ltd., LifeCell International Pvt. Ltd., StemCyte India Therapeutics Private Limited, Stempeutics Research Private Limited, ReeLabs Private Limited, CryoSave, Indu Stem Cell Bank, Path Care Labs Pvt

The aim of the report is to equip relevant players in deciphering essential cues about the various real-time market based developments, also drawing significant references from historical data, to eventually present a highly effective market forecast and prediction, favoring sustainable stance and impeccable revenue flow despite challenges such as sudden pandemic, interrupted production and disrupted sales channel in the India Stem Cell market.

Market segments on the basis of:

This research report is an amalgamation of all relevant data pertaining to historic and current market specific information that systematically decide the future growth prospects of the India Stem Cell market. This section of the report further aims to enlighten report readers about the decisive developments and catastrophic implications caused by an unprecedented incident such as the pandemic that has visibly rendered unparalleled implications across the market.

This report is well documented to present crucial analytical review affecting the India Stem Cell market amidst COVID-19 outrage. The report is so designed to lend versatile understanding about various market influencers encompassing a thorough barrier analysis as well as an opportunity mapping that together decide the upcoming growth trajectory of the market. In the light of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, this mindfully drafted research offering is in complete sync with the current ongoing market developments as well as challenges that together render tangible influence upon the holistic growth trajectory of the India Stem Cell market.

Besides presenting a discerning overview of the historical and current market specific developments, inclined to aid a future-ready business decision, this well-compiled research report on the India Stem Cell market also presents vital details on various industry best practices comprising SWOT and PESTEL analysis to adequately locate and maneuver profit scope. Therefore, to enable and influence a flawless market-specific business decision, aligning with the best industry practices, this specific research report on the market also lends a systematic rundown on vital growth triggering elements comprising market opportunities, persistent market obstacles and challenges, also featuring a comprehensive outlook of various drivers and threats that eventually influence the growth trajectory in the India Stem Cell market.

Get upto 40% Discount available on this Report @ https://www.reportconsultant.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=80360

India Stem Cell Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Central & Eastern Europe, CIS)

Asia Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, Rest of Asia Pacific)

Latin America (Brazil, Rest of L.A.)

Middle East and Africa (Turkey, GCC, Rest of Middle East)

Some Major TOC Points:

Chapter 1. Report Overview

Chapter 2. Growth Trends

Chapter 3. Market Share by Key Players

Chapter 4. Breakdown Data by Type and Application

Chapter 5. Market by End Users/Application

Chapter 6. COVID-19 Outbreak: India Stem Cell Industry Impact

Chapter 7. Opportunity Analysis in Covid-19 Crisis

Chapter 9. Market Driving Force

And More

In this latest research publication a thorough overview of the current market scenario has been portrayed, in a bid to aid market participants, stakeholders, research analysts, industry veterans and the like to borrow insightful cues from this ready-to-use market research report, thus influencing a definitive business discretion. The report in its subsequent sections also portrays a detailed overview of competition spectrum, profiling leading players and their mindful business decisions, influencing growth in the India Stem Cell market.

About Us:

Report Consultant A worldwide pacesetter in analytics, research and advisory that can assist you to renovate your business and modify your approach. With us, you will learn to take decisions intrepidly by taking calculative risks leading to lucrative business in the ever-changing market. We make sense of drawbacks, opportunities, circumstances, estimations and information using our experienced skills and verified methodologies.

Our research reports will give you the most realistic and incomparable experience of revolutionary market solutions. We have effectively steered business all over the world through our market research reports with our predictive nature and are exceptionally positioned to lead digital transformations. Thus, we craft greater value for clients by presenting progressive opportunities in the futuristic market.

Contact us:

Riaana Singh

(Report Consultant)

sales@reportconsultant.com

http://www.reportconsultant.com

Continued here:
India Stem Cell Market speedy growth at US$ 1.27 Bn by 2028 with Thermofisher Scientific India, Pluristem Technologies, Becton Dickinson Private...

To Read More: India Stem Cell Market speedy growth at US$ 1.27 Bn by 2028 with Thermofisher Scientific India, Pluristem Technologies, Becton Dickinson Private…
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on India Stem Cell Market speedy growth at US$ 1.27 Bn by 2028 with Thermofisher Scientific India, Pluristem Technologies, Becton Dickinson Private… | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

World Cancer Day 2021: Know All About The Different Types Of Blood Cancer From Expert – NDTV Doctor

By daniellenierenberg

World Cancer Day: Blood cancer can be managed with treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy

World Cancer Day 2021: This day is observed on February 4. Blood cancer originates in the blood forming tissues when abnormal blood cells start growing out of control, thereby interrupting the functioning of the normal blood cells. The normal blood cells help strengthen the immune system by fighting infection and producing new blood cells. Most blood cancers begin in the bone marrow where blood is produced. The three most common blood cancers are lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. The common symptoms include weakness, shortness of breath, minimal injury resulting in fractures, excessive or easy bruising, bleeding gums, recurrent infections and frequent vomiting sensations. Blood cancer can be managed with treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and stem cell transplant.

Multiple myeloma

Multiple Myeloma develops in the bone marrow and affects plasma cells of the body. Plasma cells are responsible for producing antibodies that attack infections and diseases. When these cells become cancerous, they collect in the bone marrow and weaken the bones, causing pain on movement. They also produce antibodies that are useless and make the body weaker. Some common symptoms for multiple myeloma include low blood count, high calcium levels, kidney problems and spinal cord compression due to weakened bones.

Also read:Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy: Here's All You Need To Know

Lymphoma

Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system, which is responsible for getting rid of toxins in the body. When the immune cells, or lymphocytes, grow out of control, they collect in the lymph nodes, spleen and in other tissues, and organs. The main types are Hodgkins and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Some common symptoms for lymphomas include painful swelling in the neck, groin, and armpits, fever and drenching sweats, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and shortness of breath.

Leukaemia

Leukaemia is cancer in the bone marrow that gradually spreads to the bloodstream. It is the most common cause of death due to cancer in India. In Leukaemia, the bone marrow produces metamorphosed cells, that outgrow the healthy blood cells gradually. There are multiple forms of leukaemia, but the diagnosis is determined based on speed of symptom development and the type of blood cells that accumulate. Some common symptoms for leukaemia include severe and frequent infections, recurrent nosebleeds, tiny red spots on the skin and excessive sweating and pain in the bones and joints.

While lymphomas and leukaemia affect both children and adults, Myeloma is more prevalent among adults.

Also read:What To Do When A Cancer Patient Tests Positive For COVID-19?

There are several therapies that can be used for treating the different kinds of blood cancer such as:

While there have been developments and advancement in therapies and treatments available for cancer, a significant portion of the future cancer burden can be prevented if we take necessary precautionary measures in the early stages. Better control on tobacco sale and consumption, dietary changes, expansion and equitable distribution of medical facilities, awareness about education programs and risks, prevention, and knowing the benefits of bone marrow donation can go a long way in reducing the burden of blood cancer.

Also read:Alarming Cancer Symptoms Men Should Not Ignore

(Dr Nitin Sood, Director, Hemato Oncology and Stem Cell Transplant Medical and Haemato Oncology, Cancer Institute, Medanta)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. NDTV is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

See the original post:
World Cancer Day 2021: Know All About The Different Types Of Blood Cancer From Expert - NDTV Doctor

To Read More: World Cancer Day 2021: Know All About The Different Types Of Blood Cancer From Expert – NDTV Doctor
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on World Cancer Day 2021: Know All About The Different Types Of Blood Cancer From Expert – NDTV Doctor | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

MPN Efforts Set Sights on Improved Survival and Symptom Burden – OncLive

By daniellenierenberg

Combinations of JAK inhibitors and novel agents, such as epigenetic regulators, could help prolong survival in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), providing patients with more than a reduction in spleen size and symptomatic relief, explained Shella Saint Fleur-Lominy, MD, PhD, who added that for patients who have already progressed on ruxolitinib (Jakafi), fedratinib (Inrebic), momelotinib, and pacritinib could be potential second-line options.

A lot of these agents will probably be used in combination with ruxolitinib for the most optimal response. Its very promising to see all those different agents emerge that have an effect on disease outcome and modulation of the bone marrow, said Saint Fleur-Lominy. For every symptomatic patient who gets diagnosed with myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera [PV], or essential thrombocythemia [ET], we need to determine if theyre a candidate for a clinical trial, because thats how we advance the treatment landscape.

In an interview with OncLiveduring a 2020 Institutional Perspectives in Cancer webinar on hematologic malignancies, Saint Fleur-Lominy, an assistant professor, Department of Medicine, at NYU Langone Healths Perlmutter Cancer Center, discussed the current landscape of MPNs and the importance of addressing disease burden and progression.

Saint Fleur-Lominy: Downstream of JAK, there are STAT dependent and independent pathways that are involved in disease modulation. A number of newer agents target those signals downstream of JAK. For example, theres the oral kinase inhibitor alisertib, which is downstream of cNeT, which is downstream of JAK. Its one of the molecules that is upregulated in this disease. The phase 1 study was very small, but when they analyzed bone marrow samples pre- and posttreatment, they saw that there was improvement in the degree of fibrosis, and preclinical data showed the same thing.

Other agents include epigenetic regulators. We have an ALS21 inhibitor. We have BT inhibitors. One was studied in combination with ruxolitinib in [JAK-inhibitor nave patients] and patients who didnt have a good response to ruxolitinib. One of the themes among these different agents is that that they modulate the disease. One of the key findings, particularly for the LSD1 inhibitor was that the bone marrow fibrosis and variant allele frequency was reduced significantly. Those diseases dont just have the JAK mutation, they have a lot of other genes that could be mutated and that have [an effect on] survival, disease progression, and response to treatment. Having drugs that target those repeated clones is very significant. Theres also a telomerase inhibitor, and there is a phase 3 trial that is being planned.

Patients can have thrombotic events like clots, and we see that across the different subtypes of PV, ET, and myelofibrosis. Patients who have a low level of fibrosis can have those complications. It doesnt matter how much fibrosis you have in the bone marrow. The risk is usually lower in younger people, but as you age, you see [patients at greater] risk.

There is also a risk of bleeding events as well, especially in ET when people have a very high platelet count. There is also a risk of leukemic transformation because MPN is a disease that has mutations in hematopoietic stem cells, and those stem cells can transform [and] acquire new high-risk mutations and other chromosomal abnormalities and transform into acute leukemia.

In terms of symptom burden, a very large study looked at the symptomatic manifestation of MPNs [and found that] the burden is really high. Approximately 80% of patients have a really high symptomatic burden, [ranging] from fatigue to other symptoms like reduced appetite, early satiety because of big spleen, or the big spleen causing abdominal discomfort. As high as 60% of patients have abdominal discomfort, or early satiety. Up to 80% of patients reported fatigue.

Other symptoms like itching and night sweats [were also common]. Itching you see more with PV. Weight loss, fever, and bone pain [are additional symptoms that patients may experience]. The severity varies, so some patients have mild symptoms, and some patients have more severe symptoms. The main thing is that patients with MPNs have a very high symptomatic burden. Thats one of the reasons [a lot of studies] evaluating drugs in this disease usually use spleen reduction size and symptomatic relief as end points.

One of the most common mutations is JAK2. These are diseases of abnormal JAK signaling. About 95% of patients with PV have the classic JAK2 V617F mutation, and the rest usually have [a JAK exon 12 or exon 14 mutation]. The JAK V617F mutation is found in up to 60% of patients with ET or myelofibrosis. MPL and CALR mutations are found in up to 30% [of patients].

Ruxolitinib was the first JAK inhibitor that was approved for the treatment of higher-risk myelofibrosis, and then later on was approved for the treatment of patients with PV who are intolerant to hydroxyurea or have not responded to hydroxyurea and are symptomatic.

[The end point that was evaluated in the pivotal trial] in myelofibrosis was reduction of spleen volume and symptomatic relief. The COMFORT-I and COMFORT-II trials were both randomized controlled trials. The COMFORT-I trial had a placebo [control] and the COMFORT-II trial had best available therapy [as the control]. Both of these studies also had significant crossover. Once the investigators realized that ruxolitinib [led to a significant improvement in] patient outcomes and symptom relief, and that there was a signal for overall survival [OS], [patients were] allowed crossover [to receive ruxolitinib]. In COMFORT-II, there wasnt really a significant [improvement in] OS, but the crossover [probably] affected that.

In terms of PV, patients were higher risk and were not responding to hydroxyurea or were intolerant to hydroxyurea. These patients were phlebotomy dependent. A significant number of patients achieved phlebotomy independence and had a reduction in spleen volume and symptoms.

Fedratinib [Inrebic] is a selective JAK2 inhibitor compared with ruxolitinib, which is a JAK1/2 inhibitor. The thought is that [fedratinib] will be better tolerated than [ruxolitinib. When the investigators did the randomized placebo-controlled trial for fedratinib, they evaluated 2 different doses of fedratinib. At the higher dose, they saw a rare but serious complication of Wernicke encephalopathy. Because of that, were using the lower dose of 400 [mg].

In terms of the decrease in spleen size and symptoms, there didnt seem to be a difference between the 400 [-mg] and the 500 [-mg] dose. Therefore, it makes sense that the 400 [-mg dose] is the one that were using. [Although fedratinib] results in less thrombocytopenia, ruxolitinib is the go-to drug for patients who can tolerate it. You can still use fedratinib post-ruxolitinib, but I dont know about the reverse [sequence].

We saw updated data [for momelotinib from the SIMPLIFY-1 and -2 studies] at the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. [Momelotinib] inhibits JAK1/2 and Activin receptor 1. One of the studies was a noninferiority study that randomized JAK-inhibitor nave patients to ruxolitinib or momelotinib. The outcome was about the same. The other study was designed to be a superiority trial that was against best available therapy in patients who were post-ruxolitinib. The primary end point was clinical response rate, and it met the end point. [We also saw an improvement in] the total symptom scores and transfusion independence. The sustained responses and the survival benefit [for momelotinib] makes it a very promising [agent], especially for patients post-ruxolitinib compared with best available therapy.

A lot of those patients are older, and they may not be candidates for transplant. Therefore, having something that can prolong survival and make them feel better, post-ruxolitinib, is really important. When you withdraw ruxolitinib, patients can have symptoms rebound, which also seems to have an effect on survival, so if you have another JAK inhibitor that can keep them going, thats very helpful. Im hopeful for momelotinib and pacritinib.

Read the rest here:
MPN Efforts Set Sights on Improved Survival and Symptom Burden - OncLive

To Read More: MPN Efforts Set Sights on Improved Survival and Symptom Burden – OncLive
categoriaBone Marrow Stem Cells commentoComments Off on MPN Efforts Set Sights on Improved Survival and Symptom Burden – OncLive | dataFebruary 3rd, 2021
Read All

Page 21«..10..20212223..3040..»


Copyright :: 2024