Walking Helps Leukemia Chemotherapy Patients

Posted on June 12, 2008 by David Austin

A study published in the May issue of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management  indicates that a walking exercise program can  reduce fatigue levels in those AML( acute myelogenous leukemia) patients  who are being treated with chemotherapy.

Dr. Yeur-Hur Lai of National Taiwan University in Taipei and colleagues randomly assigned 22 hospitalized AML patients  to either a walking group or a control group receiving standard ward care.  The walking group walked 12 minutes each day for 5 days a week for a period of 3 weeks.  All patients were evaluated before chemotherapy and on day 7,14 and 21 of the chemotherapy.

The investigation found that those in the walking had lower levels of fatigue intensity and interference than the control.   They also found that symptom distress, anxiety and depression were lower in the walking group.

"Taken together, our preliminary findings suggest that a brief exercise-driven program, such as the walking exercise program, should be started at the beginning of chemotherapy to decrease chemotherapy-related fatigue," Lai's team concluded. "Standardizing the walking exercise program as part of a chemotherapy-related care model should be feasible and encouraged to improve cancer-related fatigue experiences."

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Can Doctors predict AML recurrence?

Posted on May 2, 2008 by David Austin

Two studies reported in the May 1st  edition of the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that there are genetic markers that can make it easier for doctors to determine what type of treatment is the best for individuals with AML,  Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  One study done in Ulm, Germany analyzed the genetic makeup of normal AML cells in 872 patients and uncovered two mutations that cut the risk of relapse and death in half. 

AML, which starts in the bone marrow and often spreads into the blood, can be treated by chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplant.  Each method carries its own risks, ranging from toxicity to transplant rejection.

Survival rates were calculated  based on the type of treatment and gene mutation each patient had.  The researchers identified some cases where patients may benefit from a transplant and cases where such a procedure carries a high risk.

The second study was done by  by researchers at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center.  This research found 7 microRNAs (single-stranded ribonucleic acid molecules) responsible for immune response and which could be helpful in  predicting leukemia recurrence.  

These  studies will be useful in helping researchers find better treatments and helpful to doctors in determining which treatments are appropriate for their patients.  In addition, this may be helpful in eventually having drugs that will  target the genetic mutations identified in these two studies.



 

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