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News and Treatment Updates

Here's where you'll find a regularly updated, broad range of articles written by the AAMDSIF team, allied health organizations and news organizations. By staying well-informed, patients and families are practicing a form of self-support that will help them be more effective self-advocates when engaging with health care providers.

RARA Agonist Plus Azacitidine Shows Encouraging Activity in Relapsed/Refractory AML

Originally Published: 04/25/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
The novel agentSY-1425 combined with azacitidine appears to be active in retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) superenhancer–positive newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to the results of a phase II trial presented at the 2020 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition.1 SY-1425 is targeted to the RARA gene, a novel target in AML. “There are hints here that this therapy may find a place with the right patient population who has relapsed and refractory AML,” said lead author Eytan M. Stein, MD, a hematologist/oncologist...

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Prevalent in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Originally Published: 04/21/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia can experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) one month after receiving intensive chemotherapy and may benefit from supportive approach-oriented coping interventions, according to data published in Cancer. Previously, there have been limited data regarding PTSD symptoms among patients with acute myeloid leukemia, which is a life-threatening illness. In an interview with CURE®, Dr. Hermioni L. Amonoo, lead author on this study and staff physician in the department of psychological oncology and palliative care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,...

Isoform-specific and signaling-dependent propagation of acute myeloid leukemia by Wilms tumor 1

Originally Published: 04/20/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
Highlights WT1 is an important factor for AML maintenance in multiple subtypes WT1 acts in an isoform- and AML-subtype-specific fashion WT1 binding to chromatin is in balance with early growth response factors Upregulation of expression is part of an interlinked oncogenic signaling network Summary Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is caused by recurrent mutations in members of the gene regulatory and signaling machinery that control hematopoietic progenitor cell growth and differentiation. Here, we show that the transcription factor WT1 forms a major node in the rewired mutation-specific gene...

What's New? Foundation Update Newsletter April 2021

Originally Published: 04/20/2021
Article Source: Foundation Update

How Mindfulness Meditation Can Help Cancer Survivors Cope with Stress

Originally Published: 04/15/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
Clinical psychologist Jessica Pieczynski, PhD, offers insights into how practicing mindfulness techniques can help cancer survivors manage stress during the pandemic, and beyond. It’s possible that 2020 will go down in history as the year of Murphy’s Law. The whole “what can go wrong, will go wrong” adage seems fitting for many as they navigate the economic, social and familial impact of the pandemic and cultural movements. Increased stress during these challenging times is the norm for even the healthiest among us. For cancer survivors, however, the increased stress and complexities of...

The development and clinical use of oral hypomethylating agents in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes: dawn of the total oral therapy era

Originally Published: 04/14/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
Abstract Introduction Intravenous and subcutaneous hypomethylating agents have held a key role in myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia treatment. Following the approval of the cedazuridine/decitabine combination, ASTX727, as well as development of an oral formulation of azacitidine, CC-486, in the USA in 2020, these agents could gradually replace their injectable counterparts. Areas covered ASTX727 is approved for the treatment of adult patients with intermediate 1 or high risk MDS as well as those with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia based on...

HLA Haploidentical versus Matched Unrelated Donor Transplants with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide based prophylaxis

Originally Published: 04/13/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
Key Points Higher mortality with reduced intensity regimens after haploidentical relative compared to matched unrelated donor transplantation Higher grade III-IV acute graft versus host disease after haploidentical relative compared to matched unrelated donor transplantation Post transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis has allowed haploidentical (Haplo) transplantation to be performed with results similar to that after matched unrelated donor (MUD) transplantation with traditional prophylaxis. The relative value of transplantation with MUD versus Haplo...

Yoga in Oncologic Care: An Evidence-Based Treatment to Improve Outcomes

Originally Published: 04/10/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
The ASCO Post’s Integrative Oncology series is intended to facilitate the availability of evidence-based information on integrative and complementary therapies sometimes used by patients with cancer. Increasingly, patients with cancer desire nonpharmacologic strategies for managing their symptoms. Yoga is a time-honored mind-body practice that has been shown to improve both physical and psychological well-being. In this article, Lorenzo Cohen, PhD, and Santosshi Narayanan, MD, summarize the current evidence surrounding the use of yoga in oncology settings and highlight the need for increased...

Aprea Therapeutics Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Eprenetapopt for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Originally Published: 04/08/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
BOSTON, April 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel cancer therapeutics that reactivate the mutant tumor suppressor protein, p53, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug designation to eprenetapopt for treatment of AML. “We are pleased to have been granted Orphan Drug designation by FDA for eprenetapopt in AML, building on the Fast Track designation in AML that was granted in November 2020,” said Christian S. Schade, Chairman and Chief...

Pegcetacoplan Superior to Eculizumab for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Originally Published: 04/08/2021
Article Source: External Web Content
Pegcetacoplan was superior to eculizumab in improving outcomes in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. PNH is a rare, acquired hematologic disease that causes fatigue, increased risk of thrombosis, and bone marrow dysfunction. People with PNH often have chronic hemolysis. C5 inhibitors control intravascular hemolysis and have reduced life-threatening complications of PNH, transforming outcomes for these patients. However, extravascular hemolysis still occurs in patients being treated with C5...