Stem Cell Mutation Research

An interesting article talking about the discovery of a mutation in stem cells that may lead to a blood disorder.  The thought is that if they can isolate and treat this mutation it may lead to further discoveries and treatment for more acute leukemias.

A mutation in blood stem cells occurs in patients with a blood disorder called polycythemia vera (PV), scientists at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center at Stanford University School of Medicine have confirmed.

The discovery suggests that development of a very specific inhibitor at the stem-cell level, to interfere with the pathway leading to the disease, could improve treatment for the cancer-causing disorder. According to research published in the April 3-7 early on-line edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, patients with PV -- a disease in which the patient's body makes too many red blood cells and which can lead to acute leukemia -- have a mutation expressed in the stem cell, the point at which the body's blood cells become structurally and functionally specialized.

The scientists discovered that a mutation in the JAK2 signaling pathway allows the cells to bypass the body's usual mechanism of red blood-cell production, the binding of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to its receptor, a process which normally regulates the production of red blood cells. As a result of this intrinsic defect, the bone marrow produces excessive numbers of red blood cells.

"This discovery is important because if we can pinpoint an inhibitor that directly targets the JAK2 mutant allele, we can fight the disease without inhibiting normal stem cell differentiation. These patients could then still produce normal red blood cells, normal platelets and white blood cells," said Catriona H.M. Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and Director for Stem Cell Research at UCSD's Moores Cancer Center.

"The body is very utilitarian," added Jamieson, first author of the study. "There are primal pathways that are important for regenerating cells and tissues, and those are the same pathways that cancers use, subverting normal processes and using them for the wrong purpose. The discovery of this mutation means we can look toward interrupting these pathways, systematically, without wiping out the patient's normal blood cells."

Source:  Science Daily.com

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Latest Advances in Lymphoma Research from the National Cancer Institute

The incidence of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma has nearly doubled in the last 30 years.  Much of this increase is thought to be due to environmental exposure to carcinogens.

The National Cancer Institute has put out a great summary and Q&A on lymphoma advances.

Source:  National Cancer Institute

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Stem Cell debate in Washington

Embryonic stem cells have the unique ability to transform themselves into almost any tissue of the human body. This ability to generate new tissue offers hope to millions who suffer from diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

And (I might add) Aplastic Anemia.

The House of Representatives has passed a bill loosening the restrictions on getting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.  George Bush, of course, has said he will veto it.

Articles of note on this:  Wisconsin State Journal, Detroit News

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Cancer Clusters

Cancer clusters related to benzene is not an area that we spend a lot of time researching or pursuing cases in.  We focus primarily on benzene related leukemias and blood diseases that come from industrial exposures and we focus on individual cases and lawsuits. 

That said, cancer clusters do exist and some famous cases have come from them, such as the basis for the book Civil Action involving contaminated water in Massachusetts.  I received an email referring me to another blog with an entry or two about a possible cancer cluster in Nevada and the resulting CDC study.

South(west) Paw Blog "fallon,nv &sierra vista, az leukemia clusters"

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More on Benzene-Induced Myelodysplastic Syndrome

This was a case study I found on a man who had worked in a petrochemical plant for many years.  His job was mixing benzene in a process that created a substance called caprolactam. The Caprolactam is used to make Nylon and Plastic.  After about 15 years working in this plant he developed Leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia.  This finding lead to bone marrow tests that found myelodysplastic syndrome.  This man (at the time of this article) was out of work at home still suffering from some symptoms of the myelodysplastic syndrome.

The typical time period of exposure for benzene induced leukemia is generally accepted as 1 to 15 years or so.  It can be longer, but this is the general time frame.

Myelodysplasia is the step in the cancer process that comes before aplastic anemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.  Not every case starts this way and progresses through the three diseases, but this is something that is seen.

One of the more interesting comments in this article was that the link between Aplastic Anemia and benzene has been seen "since the end of the 19th century".  Late 1800s, more than a hundred years.

Article: Benzene Induced Myelodysplastic Syndrome

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