| TREANDA Significantly Improves Clinical Outcomes In Patients With ...
Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) announced that in a pivotal study of treatment-naive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), those who received TREANDA (bendamustine HCl) had better clinical outcomes compared to patients treated with chlorambucil, an FDA-approved therapy for patients with CLL. TREANDA(R) is a novel investigational chemotherapy that is currently under priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CLL is a slowly progressing blood and bone marrow disease with an estimated 15,000 new cases diagnosed every year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. The final data from this large, international, multi-center study were presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Atlanta, GA [Poster # 233-II; Abstract #2043].
Lymphocytic leukemia therapy evaluated
HOUSTON, Dec. 11 U.S. scientists have found chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with therapy that includes the drug oblimersen survive longer than other patients.
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center researchers said patients who achieved a complete response with oblimersen have survived so well that a median survival time cannot yet be calculated, but it's estimated to exceed 49 months. Those who achieved complete response with chemotherapy alone had a median survival time of 35 months.
"In a relapsed population, that's excellent survival," said lead study author Dr. Susan O'Brien.
The research was reported Monday in Atlanta during the 49th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
Copyright 2007 by UPI .
Caudill still recovering
When Madison County Superintendent Mike Caudill announced last August that he would be taking a leave of absence to have a second bone marrow transplant, it was estimated he would be back to work in three to six months.More than a year later, he still is on a long, difficult road to recovery with no target date set for his return."I'm feeling very good and getting stronger every day," Caudill said. "My cancer is in remission. We are now dealing with complications with my kidneys."He was diagnosed May 13, 1998, with non-Hodgekin's lymphoma while assistant superintendent for the district.After about a year of chemotherapy treatment, Caudill had a bone marrow transplant in September 1999 at the Markey Cancer Center in Lexington.He went into remission Jan. 3, 2000, and was able to come back to work after about a three-month leave of absence.Caudill was told by doctors that one of the possible side effects from the chemotherapy treatments could be an effect on his chromosomes.A test last summer found that two pre-leukemic chromosomes were damaged and a second transplant would be required in order to help prevent contracting leukemia.After five days of chemotherapy, Caudill had his second bone marrow transplant last November, followed by random days of chemotherapy and anti-rejection drugs.In late February, he finished about three weeks of inpatient rehabilitation at Cardinal Hill in Lexington.Since then, Caudill has been in and out of the Markey Cancer Center and been trying to regain his strength at his Berea home."The recovery process is a lot longer (this time,)" he said.
Gerald Bailey II: An optimist till the end
Family, music and faith were cornerstones in the life of Gerald Bailey II and the support that sustained him during his time of need. Diagnosed with leukemia two years ago, Mr. Bailey underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments and stem-cell bone-marrow transplants, yet through it all, family members said, he maintained his contagious optimism and relentless spirit. .
Friends plea for bone marrow donors for 23-year-old
Friends of recording studio owner Kevin Couvillon have put out a plea to find a bone marrow donor to save the Windsor man's life. Couvillon, 23, was disagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in July and last month learned that no perfect matches were found out of the 11 million donors in the worldwide bone marrow registry. Since his diagnosis, Couvillon has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy, and his cancer is in remission. But Couvillon said doctors have told him that his genes indicate it's almost guaranteed the remission won't last. .
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