Beat AML Master Clinical Trial in North Texas

LLS Investing in Cures

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is at the center of the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) innovative decision to allow a nonprofit organization to lead its own clinical trial.  The target: acute myeloid leukemia (AML).  It is the deadliest form of leukemia and has not seen a new treatment option in more than 40 years.

LLS Investing in Patients

LLS is dedicating more than $125 million to the Beat AML initiative, which is focused on creating new treatment options for AML patients.  LLS is harnessing the efforts of geneticists, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and healthcare facilities in this revolutionary approach to creating new therapies.

LLS Investing in North Texas

Dr. Robert Collins, Jr., a member of the North Texas LLS Medical Advisory Board and LLS-funded researcher, has been charged with the task of leading the ONLY Beat AML trial in the south at UT Southwestern Medical Center Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.  Dr. Collins is currently accepting newly diagnosed AML patients as part of the Beat AML Master Trial.  Click here to learn more.

Hear More From Dr. Collins

Intrigued?  You can hear more about the Beat AML trial from Dr. Collins at the FREE North Texas Cancer Expo on Saturday, September 16th.  Registration for this session is limited and expected to fill quickly.

www.ntxcancerexpo.org

 Click on the image below to hear Dr. Collins talk about the Master Trial

Volunteer Spotlight: Kendall Childers

Kendall Childers is a key volunteer leader in organizing this September's 11th Annual North Texas Blood Cancer Conference and inaugural NTX Cancer Expo.  She wears many hats but her key focus is on creating a seamless registration process for conference and expo participants and volunteers.  Kendall has also held two very successful third party fundraising events for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).  Below she explains why she dedicates her time to our organization:

"My paternal grandfather had leukemia for almost all of my childhood. He fought hard for 13 years and passed away the summer after I turned 21.  I have almost no memories of him without cancer, and my younger brother has none.

I remember exactly where I was when my parents sat us down to tell us the Poppa Tubby was sick. It was surreal. I remember hearing good news and bad news, visiting him in the hospital, visiting him at home and watching him hide some of his pills in the ottoman cushion because he had to take so many. What I remember most was that no matter what he always had a smile on his face and he always wanted to talk about his grandkids and what was going on in our life.

Cancer made him weaker than he was before and it took away his ability to play a full round of golf, but it never once took his spirit. His doctor told him to stop drinking so he switched to singles instead of doubles, maybe not the best thing, but it was his way of holding on to normalcy, his way of saying cancer can have my body but it can't have my mind. Poppa Tubby was my hero, he quickly became the strongest, most brave man I knew, and still is in my eyes today.

He got almost all of his treatment at the City of Hope in California and told his doctors to make him a guinea pig. He was open to any new experimental treatment he could qualify for and for several of those he was the only or one of only a handful that made it through treatment. I think that spirit is what attracted me most to LLS. The amount of money the organization dedicates to research is amazing and it's that research that allowed my grandpa to make it to my high school graduation and buy me a legal drink (two goals he set for himself). Someday is today...this speaks to me because I want more than ever for there to be a day where no one else has to lose their hero."

Registration for the North Texas Blood Cancer Conference and Cancer Expo will open later this month.  Both events are full of pertinent information to ALL cancer patients, survivors caregivers, nurses and social workers.  The events are free but registration is required.  Learn more about both events and the topics that will be covered here. 

The Motivation Behind Team Fight Like Hell

Team Fight Like Hell organized a golf tournment to raise money
for their Light The Night Walk team in Ann Marie's honor.
They raised more than $19,000!

Ann Marie Herbst, an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivor and Fort Worth Light The Night Walk honored hero, recently shared her personal story at the Fort Worth Corporate Recruitment Event.  Read her script, which brought the audience to tears.

"My name is Ann Marie Herbst and I am an acute myeloid leukemia survivor.  At the time I was diagnosed I was a seemingly healthy and very happy 29-year-old.  My husband, Jay, and I had a 15-month-old baby girl and hopes of expanding our family.  Fortunately, the desire to have another child would be what would take me to the doctor for blood work, as I had no other symptoms. 

Unfortunately, instead of getting exciting news of a new baby, we were faced with the shocking and heartbreaking news of a cancer diagnosis.  I know that bad news never has good timing but receiving the call on a Friday made for a very long weekend.  On Monday I went to a clinic in Fort Worth.  I received my first ever bone marrow biopsy.  Looking back I am glad I didn’t know what was coming and I was so desperate for someone to help me that I was willing to fight through any amount of pain.  The following Tuesday I was admitted as a patient at UTSW in Dallas.  Unfortunately they do all their own testing so I had to have my second biopsy.  At the time I was so relieved to be in a doctor’s care and I had no idea I would suffer through 4 intense rounds of chemotherapy, spend 2 nights in the ICU with the fear of heart failure, get the flu with no immune system, that I would see people come into the hospital to never return home or that I wouldn’t be able to see my baby girl for 87 nights.   As every loving mother knows, putting yourself before your child goes against everything you stand for but my choice was now or forever and that answer was simple.  I had to get better so I could have her forever.  People ask me all the time what the hardest part of cancer was and I can say without a doubt that for me putting motherhood on hold was the most heart wrenching.  At the same time, I also know how incredibly blessed I was to have her to go home to.  

Prior to starting treatment, I spent 5 days in the hospital waiting on bone marrow results.  At the time I felt like I was sitting around waiting to die.  What I know now is that I am incredibly blessed that my case was an urgency but not an emergency and that I had that time to wait on the results because the doctors were able to diagnosis my specific genetic mutation and treat me accordingly.  As strange as it sounds, my doctor was happy with my mutation because the research for my diagnosis have come so far and the results of the specific treatment I received are extremely promising, which was surprising for an AML diagnosis.  In the past, an AML diagnosis yielded grim results and protocols remained practically the same for nearly 40 years. Thanks to the more than $8 million that LLS has invested in AML research in the past few years, some of which went to researchers at UT Southwestern, that is rapidly changing and my story had a happy ending. We are on a path toward cures, and I stand before you today because my dream is to live in a world without cancer and in the meantime, for every cancer patient to have the same chance at fighting as I did and we simply can’t get there without funding and research. Thank you for your time and for allowing me to share my story. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to take such a painful experience and turn it into something so positive."  

Survivors like Ann Marie are what motivate the thousands of LLS supporters and volunteers in North Texas to keep fighting and fundraising to fund much needed cures.  Motivated by Ann Marie's story?  Walk alongside Ann Marie and her team, Fight Like Hell, at the Fort Worth Light The Night Walk on Sunday, October 30th. 

Dallas Light The Night Memorial Hero: Doug Campbell

Doug Campbell's remarkable life is honored at the 2015 Light
The Night Walk with a gold ribbon at the LLS Mission Tent

The Dallas 2016 Light The Night Memorial Hero is a North Texas man who led a remarkable life despite living in the shadow of an incurable blood cancer.  Doug's story continues to inspire and motivate the people who had the chance to hear him share his struggle and his joy for life in person.  This past September, Douglas M. Campbell, Ph.D., age 52, lost his 15-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Doug was many things - a repeat Team In Training athlete, Light The Night participant, Mission Task Force co-chair, cancer advocate, inspiring honored hero, champion volunteer, scientist and friend,  but the role he was most proud of was that of a loving husband and father to his three beautiful girls.  He often cited his family as his motivation to not only fight to survive his disease and its side effects, but to live life to its fullest. He noted his top goals were to see his daughters graduate from high school, then college, one day walk them down the aisle and maybe even meet his grandchildren.  He did see his oldest daughter graduate and go on to study chemistry like her dad. Unfortunately, he passed away just shy of seeing his second child graduate this year and will most certainly be there in spirit for the many future milestones his girls will reach.

His wife, Stacey, and their three daughters are continuing what their family began when Doug was first diagnosed in 2000.  They are steadfast in their dedication to helping fulfill the LLS vision of a world without blood cancers and registered their Walkers for Hope team for the 2016 Light The Night Walk, the family’s 16th consecutive Light the Night Walk, setting a goal of raising $100,000 in Doug's memory.

The $100,000 fundraising goal is significant to the Campbell family because that will allow them to name a LLS research grant in Doug's honor. “The cure is out there. As a gifted chemist, Doug was always about the research and the science. It seems only fitting to set this goal to memorialize Doug Campbell's intellect, courage, strength and pure will to live life well every day of his 15- year battle. Our hope is to get us one step closer to saving another daddy from leaving his girls too soon.” shares Stacey.
We are honored to have Doug Campbell serve as the 2016 Memorial Hero for the Dallas Mega Walk. We could not think of a more deserving representative for the work still to be done.  Inspired by Doug's story?  You can register to participate in the upcoming Walks by registering at www.lightthenight.org/ntx

Rituxan: Another Use Outside of Blood Cancers

Sami Schwendeman, the Light The Night Manager in Fort Worth, has worked for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for two years.  She is driven by the patients the organization serves and the research that LLS funds.  Read below about how a recent discovery about her mom's battle with rheumatoid arthritis reinvigorated her passion for the LLS mission.

"My mom has had rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for nearly two decades. When she was first diagnosed, she was forced to stop her active lifestyle because of the pain and side effects of this chronic inflammatory disorder.  Recently, I discovered that RA and blood cancer are related.  Here's how.. 

A little over 10 years ago my mom joined a clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The trial gave patients an infusion of a medication called Rituxan to treat their RA.  After several infusions of Rituxan, my mom’s joints were less swollen, she didn’t cringe when she stood up out of bed, her wedding band fit over her knuckles again...the infusions worked and the FDA approved Rituxan as a treatment for RA in 2006. Fast forward to now, my mom still gets Rituxan infusions to keep her RA in check and will continue to do so.  How is this related to LLS? In the early 1990s LLS funded research for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) treatments. The drug that was eventually approved with the help of LLS funding was called rituximab, aka, Rituxan. Rituxan was initially approved as a therapy for NHL, CLL, and other b-cell lymphomas.  It later proved to be effective in the treatments of multiple other cancers in addition to RA.

This is not an uncommon trend - 40% of cancer treatments in the past decade were initially approved as blood cancer treatments.  The more than $1 billion invested in research by LLS has gone on to impact the treatment of breast, prostate, skin, colon and many other cancers as well as arthritis and Alzheimer's, and is being tested for treatment of HIV, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. LLS is funding critical research, not just for blood cancers, but for all cancers and other diseases.

The mission of LLS is to find a cure for blood cancers and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families - a mission I am extremely passionate about. Who could have guessed that the treatment that would make my mom feel good again would have started as a blood cancer treatment? Talk about coming full circle!"

Patient Access Manager: IWMF Educational Forum

May is an important month of firsts for me.  My first Mother’s Day.  My daughter’s first birthday.  And, my first International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) Educational Forum!  Every year IWMF brings together the patient, caregiver, and support communities to learn about Waldenstrom’s.  Presentations are given by thought leaders in research and clinical practice, but aimed at a lay audience.  We were lucky enough to host this year’s Forum right here in Grapevine!

The day before the main Forum started, I attended a luncheon with support group leaders.  As a Patient Access Manager, I support the medical, nonprofit, and survivor/caregiver communities.  It was so interesting to talk to these leaders and learn from their experience.  A good majority of those who have now assumed leadership positions in their community actually started in groups as patients or caregivers themselves.  I love stories where people take challenging experiences and channel them into positive change for others.  This group did not disappoint!  They brought tears to my eyes and inspiration to my heart. 

The next three days were the sessions.  The speakers were clearly vetted well, because the caliber of these talks really blew me away.  Seriously-check out this lineup: 2015 Ed Forum Agenda!   I am going to tell you about my favorite two: Dr. Larry Anderson and Dr. Lee Greenberger.  Hey, I never said I wasn’t biased!  I made me proud to see these two LLS rock stars represent us so well. 

LLS sponsored Dr. Anderson’s session: I Need Treatment – First Line Treatments & Side Effects on Friday. Dr. Anderson reviewed diagnosis, first-line treatment options, the benefits of each option, and potential side-effects to consider before deciding on which option is right for you. His case study method highlighted various presentations of the disease and how treatment options vary based on the diagnostic profile. The interactive session let the audience apply the information themselves and showed me the importance of empowering patients.  These types of educational sessions go a long way in promoting patient/caregiver engagement and encouraging them to be their own advocates throughout treatment. 

When he is not educating the masses, seeing patients, or juggling the 13 clinical trials he is involved in, Dr. Anderson also finds time to be an LLS advocate.  This year, he is a Man of the Year candidate.  A special thanks to Dr. Anderson for the many ways he supports our North Texas community!

On Sunday, Dr. Lee Greenberger talked about The Strategic Research Roadmap for WM.  As our missions are so closely intertwined, LLS and IWMF have a long and rich partnership.  This talk was no exception, and served as a precursor to the joint Road Map session for WM that LLS and IWMF will be holding in New York City on May 16^th and 17^th.  I will provide a more detailed review of Dr. Greenberger’s presentation and some takeaways from this planning session in my next blog post.  Stay tuned. . . more to come! 

Your friend,

Seetha 

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Seetha Modi is the Patient Access Manager of the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and author of this monthly blog series.  She has an Masters in Public Health and has experience working with varied aspects of the healthcare industry, including hospitals, the CDC and other health-related nonprofit organizations.

Contact Seetha:

Seetha.Modi@lls.org

(972) 996-5905

Team Rooster: An Introduction

Megan Rouse, a longtime Team In Training (TNT) participant, coach and former North Texas campaign assistant has pledged to do something amazing to honor the 20th Anniversary of her father's death.  She has dedicated herself to completing 20 events and raising more than $100,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with her team, Team Rooster.  Read below to meet Megan and hear about why she dedicated herself to taking on this incredible 12-month challenge.

"When I was just eight years old, I lost my dad to cancer.  He was diagnosed with a brain tumor when I was just five and given a 1% chance to live.  The doctors told us he only had 24-48 months to live.  (Can you even imagine?  At the time I was eight and my baby brother was six.)  He retired from the Air Force where he was a fighter pilot, and immediately underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  It seemed to work - the tumor stopped growing!  So, he went back to school and got his second master’s degree, started teaching math at my sister’s high school, started working to be re-certified with the FAA, and was even back to taking the family deep sea fishing every weekend (some of my most favorite childhood memories). 

My mom recently told me that they truly believed my dad was going to be that 1%.  Man, I can barely type that line without crying.  I cannot imagine what it must have felt like to have that hope and think, we are the 1%.  But, the tumor came back with a vengeance.  That is literally how the doctor described it.  My dad started treatment again and it was beyond terrible.  Here is what I remember:  I called 9-1-1 twice to save his life, he gained weight, he got weak, and he couldn't remember his own address at times… I literally watched as his disease/treatments took over his body and our lives. 

On June 22, 1995, a day I can recount every second of, my dad lost his battle and on June 27, 1995, my 9^th birthday, we buried one of the greatest men I will ever know.

20 years later... Team Rooster

It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years… I think of the things dad has missed, like moving to Texas, teaching me to drive, watching us play sports, and picking out my college.  I'm heartbroken when I think of the things he will miss, like walking me down the aisle or holding his grandchildren.  

 I have pledged to do something BIG in his memory!

I figure there are two things I can do… sit around and be sad or do something about it.  Ever since my dad passed away I have done everything I could to help find a cure or all cancers – I have walked, ran, cycled, trathloned, donated my hair, worked golf tournaments, given up birthday presents for donations, and the list goes on and on.  

This year, in honor of this milestone I have decided to do something big.  I have committed to completing 20 endurance events in honor of 20 years and raising $100,000 for cancer research and patient aid.  My events will include triathlons, half marathons, full marathons and century cycle events.  The $100,000, the part that really matters, will be raised every way I can think of.  I am also encouraging my friends and loved ones to join my team and raise money.

Why do all this for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)?  LLS funded the research that discovered chemotherapy.  Chemotherapy, used by just about every cancer, gave me four extra years with my dad that I never would have had. 

I am excited to say to date I have completed 4 of the 20 events and Team Rooster has raised $30,000!  As one of dad’s favorite songs says, 'we have a long way to go and a short time to get there,' but what other choice do I have?  One of the greatest parts of this is that once Team Rooster hits $100,000 we will get to name a research grant after my dad.  How amazing is that!?!" 

_________________________________________________________________________________

Megan Rouse is the captain of Team Rooster.  She has dedicated herself to completing 20 events and raising $100,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of the 20th Anniversary of her father's death.  She is the author of this monthly blog series.

Patricia Thomson: Bloodletting, Cupping, Leaching and Purging

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is a proud supporter of Ken Burns presents "CANCER: THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES", a film by Barak Goodman, a vivid account of how far we've come in the fight against cancer.  North Texas Executive Director Patricia Thomson, Ph.D., provides a preview of the three party mini-series to be shown on PBS later tonight.

"In the mid nineteenth century, according to the author, 'bloodletting, cupping, leaching and purging were common procedures' for the treatment of diseases and infections.  Sterile techniques was absent with surgical sutures being made out of catgut and left to hang out in the open air, scalpels hanging out of pockets and blood-soiled tools dusted off before surgery.  Fast forward 50 years through the introduction of anesthesia, the evolution of the radical mastectomy, the development of x-ray technology and the production of synthetic chemicals.  Although these developments were a far cry from the older methods, they still brought their own baggage and some.  Anesthesia allowed the more intense and radical surgeries to occur however removal of tumors in many cases was only a piece of the puzzle.  Permanent disfigurement and chronic pain were often the result along with relapse and death from the original disease.  Advancement to more sophisticated treatment would only come through the understanding of how cancer was caused and how it spread. 

We shall so poison the atmosphere of the first act that no one of decency shall want to see the play through to the end – James Watson, speaking about chemotherapy in 1977.

Unbelievable as it may sound, chemotherapy got its origin from the use of mustard gas in the 1940s. It’s ability to totally scorch and deplete the bone marrow in its victims captivated scientists.   As expected, the first patients treated were acute leukemia patients and most were children.  Imagine the parents of a sick child being told that their child would be treated with mustard gas to cure them of their cancer.  Those children are the true heroes of our time.  They paved the way for more modern, less invasive and successful therapies. 

Chemotherapy took it’s place as the main form of treatment for blood cancer in the 40's and 50’s.  While remissions would extend longer and longer for patients, relapses were inevitable.  The early years were brutal for patients and their families.  Here is a riveting excerpt from the book regarding a women from the 50’s and her observations at the world renowned Farber clinic:  'Once I discover that almost all the children I see are doomed to die within a few months, I never cease to be astonished by the cheerful atmosphere that generally prevails.  True, upon closer examination, the parent’s eyes look suspiciously bright with tears shed and unshed.  Some of the children’s robust look, I find, are owing to one of the anti-leukemia drugs that produces swelling of the body.  And there are children with scars, children with horrible swellings on different parts of their bodies, children missing a limb, children with shaven heads, looking pale and wan, clearly as a result of recent surgery, children limping or in wheelchairs, children coughing, and children emaciated.'  She really paints a vivid and stark picture of cancer treatment 50 to 60 years ago.

Fast forward to the present, chemotherapy has come a long way, more refined and more specific to the patient and the cancer diagnosis.   It still is, however, an invasive type of therapy often resulting in long term effects, no cure, and even death.  Immunotherapy, genetically engineered killer cells, early diagnostic tools and personalized medicine is the new wave of therapies and preventive tools producing promising results and a bright future for the treatment of cancer in our lifetime.  

I hope you will join us in watching the upcoming “Cancer – The Emperor of All Maladies on PBS TONIGHT, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Set your DVRs!

Patricia"

Save the Date:

The three day documentary will air on PBS from 9-11p on March 30th and 31st and April 1st.  We hope that you will tune in.  

LLS supporters will be pleased to find that a number of the major advancements made in the fight against blood cancers highlighted in this documentary came through the work of LLS-funded researchers.

LLS and Pediatric Research

Celebrating Fathers: Ted Taylor

"A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow."

- Anonymous

The North Texas Chapter is fortunate to have the support of a number of fathers who have a personal connection to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) mission and share our drive to create a world without blood cancers.  Today we are pleased to introduce to you Ted Taylor.  He works relentlessly on behalf of LLS through our Team In Training program.  Read why below. 

What is your connection to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its mission?

My daughter Danielle was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in 1997.

Why did you choose Team In Training as a way to fundraise for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?

In 1999 my wife Dolores started training for the Disney half marathon with Team In Training and we enjoyed the experience.  The following year I signed up for America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe.  A couple years later when Danielle relapsed she was prescribed Gleevec.  The development of Gleevec was partially funded by LLS and the fundraising efforts of Team In Training participants.  That solidified our involvement with the program.

How has The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society helped you throughout your family's journey with blood cancer?

We were able to meet others that have faced a similar situation. They helped us cope.

What advice would you give to another family with a loved one that's been diagnosed?

Do your research and understand the basic information about the type of blood cancer that you or your loved one has.

What's up next for you and Danielle?

Not sure.  We just completed a sprint triathlon at the PlayTri Festival with Team In Training.  With Danielle starting law school this Fall, we may not be competing together again for a while.  It's Dolores' turn!  She will be signing up for the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco in 2015.

Honoring a former First Lady

Today we remember former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as May 19, 2014 marks 20 years since she lost her battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).  There is currently no cure for NHL but we are encouraged by the following facts:

Number of NHL deaths: Around 25,000 in 1994 vs. 20,200 in 2014

NHL survival rates: Around 50% in 1994 vs. 71.2% in 2014

In 2013 alone, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) invested $73.8 million into research.  Of that, $20.4 million was allotted for research into NHL and the other lymphomas.  Since its inception, LLS has invested more than $1 BILLION into blood cancer research.  

Thank you for playing a significant role in helping us work towards increase our survival rates and our ultimate goal - CURES for blood cancers.  

Save the Date: Advocating for Blood Cancer Patients

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) will host a three-day conference in Washington, DC, May 5-7, 2014, focusing on advances in research, lifesaving therapies, advocacy, volunteer leadership and public engagement. This is an important opportunity for our organization to showcase our commitment to finding cures and ensuring access to treatments for all blood cancer patients, through three major pillars: leadership training, advocacy and research. 

Our Research Symposium, Bridging the Gap from Bench to Bedside: The Road to Cures, will be held on Monday, May 5.

Our Volunteer Leadership Day, Tuesday, May 6, Cancer Ends With Me, will feature inspirational special guests, including survivors and families, and LLS staff, in interactive sessions to share learnings and best practices to enhance fundraising success.

On Advocacy Day, May 7, Leading the Charge for Cures and Access, volunteer advocates meet with members of Congress and their staff to engage them in LLS’s policy agenda.

Interested in participaiting but can't make the trip to Washington DC? We will have opportunities for your to steam the sessions live.  Information on how to follow along remotely will be published closer to the conference.

2013 Annual Report: Research Milestones

The 2013 Annual Report for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been released.  In this series of blogs, a number of key advancements and developments will be highlighted.  This report is an in-depth look at how your fundraising dollars are being spent and the medical breakthroughs and partnerships you are so crucial in creating.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is passionate about finding a cure for blood cancers because they are not preventable.  A cure really is the only option.  LLS' investment in research ($70 million in the last year alone) is indicative of its dedication and below are thrilled to introduce you to some of its research milestones from the last year.

Celator.  The LLS Therapy Acceleration Program passed an important milestone in January 2013 when Celator announced enrollment of the first patient in the phase 3 clinical trial of a novel drug formulation, CPX-351, for older patients with especially high-risk cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

CPS-351 employs a novel technology to ensure that the most effective ratio of two standard drugs gets directly to the leukemia cells, and that leukemia cells are preferentially killed.  This is an example of a promising therapy that might otherwise not be developed because it benefits a small patient population.  LLS hopes that the phase 3 trial will ultimately support approval of a much-needed treatment option for AML patients, for whom there have been few advances over the past three decades.

Curis, Inc., a drug development company seeking to develop next-generation targeted anti-cancer drugs, announced that the first patient has been treated in a phase 1 clinical study of a new drug, CUDC-907, for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma or multiple myeloma.

CUDC-907 is a first-in-class oral drug designed as a dual inhibitor of two enzyme classes that are both abnormally active in many cancers, known as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and histone deacetylase (HDAC).

Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on the emerging area of "epigenetics," i.e. non-mutation changes to genes and gene-binding proteins that, like gene mutations, can promote cancers.  The company announced that it has initiated phase 1 clinical trial of CPI-0610, a novel inhibitor of the :BET" family of gene-binding proteins, in patients with previously treated and progressive lymphomas.

This first-in-human trial is currently open at The Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, TN and at the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, NJ.  Additional US study sites will join the trial over the next several months.  Studies of CPI-0610 are also planned in patients with multiple myeloma and in patients with acute leukemias or myelodysplastic syndromes.

2013 Annual Report: New Grants

The 2013 Annual Report for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has been released.  In this series of blogs, a number of key advancements and developments will be highlighted.  This report is an in-depth look at how your fundraising dollars are being spent and the medical breakthroughs and partnerships you are so crucial in creating.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is always working to find ways to ensure that the best and brightest researchers in the world of blood cancer research have the funds to complete their work and get us closer to a world without blood cancers.  LLS introduced a number of new grants in 2013 to achieve that goal.

New Idea.  This is a new grant program designed to identify highly novel research strategies with potential to fundamentally increase our understanding of specific blood cancers and significantly change the way blood cancer patients are diagnosed and treated.  This program supports academic researchers with approaches that are likely to help improve patient outcomes.  The researchers will receive a one-year $100,000 grant.

Screen to Lead.  LLS also recently solicited applications from researchers who are identifying (screening) potential drugs that inhibit recently discovered cancer-driving molecules (targets) and/or optimizing the chemical properties of novel inhibitors.  This Screen to Lead initiative acknowledges a significant need to help investigators discover and improve drug-like compounds that can be further tested in the lab and in the clinic.

Quest for Cures.  In February 2013, LLS asked the academic researcher community to propose research focusing on three priority areas:  Monitoring tumor cell heterogeneity and its contribution to response or resistance to therapy; molecular mechanisms to identify and direct subsets of patients with B-cell malignancies to the right therapy; and the roll of the tumor microenvironment in initiation and maintenance of blood cancers.  Quest for Cures is enabled by funding by Celgene through our new Targets Leads and Candidates Program.  This program identifies and funds priority research areas, with support from biotechnology and pharmaceutical company partners.

LLS continues to support the development of breakthrough cancer therapies in academic settings, committing substantial funding to researchers around the world.

Mission Monday: Meet an LLS-Funded Researcher in Texas

Varsha Gandhi The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) spends millions of dollars every year supporting the work of the best and brightest blood cancer researchers around the world.  Today we introduce you to Varsha Gandhi of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  Ghandi's work has been sponsored by LLS since 2011.  Her focus has been on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and below she describes her current project that is showing great promise.

"Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an incurable disease with a 5-year survival rate of less than 20% and the prognosis has not improved significantly in the last 20 years. Doctors estimate about 12,810 new cases of AML and 9000 deaths in the United States alone in 2009. Given these statistics, there is a clear need for new agents for the treatment of AML. Unfortunately, unlike chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), AML does not have a genetic target. However, a new class of proteins, Pim kinases, has been identified to be overexpressed in AML.  Pim kinases are proteins that are involved with the growth and survival of cancer cells and these kinases also mediate acquired drug-resistance. Pim kinases are involved with activation of the expression of genetic information from DNA into RNA, transcription, via co-operation with other proteins. A number of oncogenes, DNA genes that code for proteins that participate in cancer development and progression, have RNA transcripts (“messages”) that are quickly degraded in the cell. By inhibiting the function of Pim kinases, survival of cancers that depend on short-lived RNA is impacted. In addition to its role in transcription, Pim kinases also activate other cellular proteins that are involved with complex signaling pathways in cancer cells. The activation of a number of these Pim kinase targets are needed for leukemogenesis, proliferation, cell survival, and the development of resistance to chemotherapy. Developing new drugs against Pim kinases represent a novel strategy to selectively target leukemia cells.  This is feasible because leukemia cells such as AML blasts have significantly higher level of these proteins compared to healthy cells, thus reducing toxicity to normal cells. SGI-1776 is a small molecule that potently and selectively inhibits all three Pim kinases. This is an oral drug and is being developed by SuperGen. This agent is currently in phase I clinical trial for patients with prostate cancer. Desired plasma levels (~1 micromolar) are achieved during therapy without reaching maximum tolerated dose. A new phase I trial with SGI-1776 will initiate in hematological malignancies. Preliminary data in AML leukemia cell lines suggest that SGI-1776 prevents the activation of downstream proteins by effectively blocking the signaling pathways and preventing further cancer cell accumulation. In AML animal models, the drug shows efficacy. Using established AML cell lines and cells from patients with AML, we will investigate Pim kinase inhibitor, SGI-1776, as a new treatment for AML. Knowledge gained from these studies will be used to design new protocols and will provide biomarkers that will be tested during therapy."

Mission Monday: Meet an LLS-Funded Research in Texas

Dr. Larry Kwak The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) spends millions of dollars every year supporting the work of the best and brightest blood cancer researchers around the world. Today we introduce you to Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D. of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Kwak's work has been sponsored by LLS since 2011. His focus is in two on two areas: lymphoma and myeloma.  Below he describes his current projects that are showing great promise.

"B cells are a type of white blood cell (called a B lymphocyte) that produces antibodies to identify and neutralize invading pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The human body has the ability to form millions of different types of B cells each day, and each type has a unique receptor protein (referred to as the B-cell receptor, BCR) on its membrane that will bind to one particular antigen. However B cells can become a tumor just like any other cell. B-cell tumors are known as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). In this project we will focus on mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), which is one of the rarest of the NHLs and currently has the worst prognosis of all malignant lymphomas. MCL has also own unique antigen receptors. However, we do not know what antigen is recognized by BCR and what the antigen plays a critical role in the biology and clinical outcome of MCL. We believe that B cells chronically stimulated by antigen through their B-cell receptor is one mechanism for causing MCL. The objective of this proposal is to identify the nature of the proteins that bind and provide signals to the MCL through their B-cell receptor. Furthermore, we will study the biological role of B-cell receptor by using patient tumor in a humanized mouse model. Finally, we will analyze the relationship between molecular features of the BCR/antigen and clinical outcomes. We are particularly well prepared to undertake the proposed research, because we have identified candidate antigens. Our preliminary data suggesting that a self-antigen (unlike bacteria and viruses) could be a potential antigen. Second, we have created a unique humanized mouse model system for primary MCL. It is a mouse model that has biologically functioning patient MCL cells that are transplanted. This is the first human primary MCL animal model and should be useful for the biological and therapeutic research of patient MCL cells. Finally, we have a well-established tissue bank and clinical database which characterizes long-term clinical outcome data on each patient in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Successful completion of these studies will result in better understanding of the biological and clinical role of the BCR in this disease. This information will be utilized in the development of novel strategies for identifying prognosis markers and for treatment of these lymphomas."

Mission Monday: LLS Featured as Leader in Venture Philanthropy and Sceince

In April, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was invited to participate in the 2013 Milken Institute Global Conference, where some of the world's most extraordinary people gather to explore solutions to today's most pressing challenges in business, health, government, and education. Speakers included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, former Vice President Al Gore, Microsoft's Bill Gates, Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA).

Louis DeGennaro, PhD, LLS Chief Mission Officer, joined venture capitalists, pharmaceutical and biotech executives and board members from Faster Cures at three different panel discussions to explore funding options for advancing innovative research. He participated in discussions about why high risk long-term investments are needed to turn medical innovation into new therapies, the two different pathways within the LLS Therapy Acceleration Program, and funding options to support cutting-edge research.

Many participants at the conference expressed their appreciation and support for LLS research. Executive director of Faster Cures Margaret Anderson said, "LLS has been transforming the blood cancer space," while NIH Director Dr Francis Collins conveyed a similar sentiment, "LLS is doing great science. We are so proud of our National Center for Advancing Translational Science partnership with you."

Freebie Friday: New Ideas in Blood Cancer Research

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has recently developed a new grant concept to facilitate innovations in research and science. "The New Idea Award" grant concept funds untested treatment paradigms that are safer, more effective and substantically different from current therapies. Because these types of treatment are less likely to be funded by the traditional grants administered by the National Cancer Institute, the New Idea Award grant is crucial to ensuring the delivery of novel treatments and ultimately cures for more patients with blood cancers.

Applicants interested in the New Idea Award submit their innovative idea or approach as well as a method for testing it within the one-year grant period. Grants will be awarded up to $100,000 for the first year, after which applicants will be evaluated on the extent to which their innovative concept was substantiated based on initial testing. LLS plans to fund up to eight awards this first year and hopes that each new idea will help with the clinical advancement of cancer treatments.


A volunteer panel of researchers who are leaders in blood cancer treatment and research, chaired by Armand Keating, MD, Director of the Division of Hematology at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, will peer-review all grant applications. Panelists initially screened more than 100 applications and selected three dozen for review. After closely evaluating all applications, the panel will present their final recommendations in June for grants that will begin in October.

We look forward to releasing the names and projects of the winners of The New Grant Award later this year.

Mission Monday: Brian Druker, M.D.

For more than sixty years, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has supported groundbreaking and lifesaving research.  One of the most notable researchers LLS has supported is Brian Druker, M.D.  He was a leader during the 1990s in the development of Gleevec, a revolutionary "targeted therapy" approved by the FDA in 2001 for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.  Recent studies show that more than 90% of nearly diagnosed early stage chronic myeloid leukemia patients can expect to survive long-term.  Dr. Druker is a large reason why that number is so high. 

Watch this video to find out what piqued Dr. Druker's interest in blood cancers early in his career.

Mother's Day Profile: Kirsa Williams

I remember the day Bennett was diagnosed like it was yesterday. It was a Saturday afternoon in April of 2011 and I was at the Dallas Galleria with my two older girls when my husband called me from the pediatrician’s office. Earlier that morning we had talked about taking Bennett in to the doctor’s office because he was developing red dots on his abdomen and back and had a slight fever. A rash, we thought. Keith’s voice sounded shaky as he tried to explain that Bennett needed a blood test and the doctor thought the red dots could indicate something was wrong with his bone marrow. Bone marrow? How could something be wrong with his bone marrow, I thought. Bennett was a healthy, adorable, 13 month old baby boy, who was full of energy and laughter. It was completely out of the blue when on that day, after a blood test at Children’s Medical Center, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Blood cancer.

Bennett soon had surgery to get a port placed in his upper chest area so he could begin getting chemotherapy. He also had a spinal tap to check for cancer cells in his spinal fluid and a bone marrow aspiration to detect what percentage of his marrow was cancerous. Bennett’s bone marrow was 86% cancerous. The cancer cells had almost completely crowded out the healthy blood cells. We soon learned that Bennett would require 39 months of chemotherapy to save his life. The first 10 months were the hardest to take. As a mother, I would have done anything to trade places with him. The amount of chemo he received was unfathomable, but he took it like a champ, and somehow we powered through the most difficult thing we had ever had to do.

I have learned a lot of facts about blood cancer since then. I learned that 50 years ago, the survival rate for ALL was less than 5%, now it is almost 90%. The amount of research that has gone into leukemia alone is outstanding. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has funded so much of the research that helped develop some of the chemotherapy drugs that saved Bennett’s life. My husband and I have participated in many races with Team In Training, and with our friends help, we have raised almost $160,000 for LLS. With Bennett as our inspiration, we will continue to raise money and awareness for blood cancer. We want to be a part of finding a cure!

Bennett is now three years old and has 15 months left of daily chemotherapy and monthly visits to the hospital. Bennett may have blood cancer, but blood cancer doesn’t have him. We know he will beat this, and our entire family will be stronger because of it!

If you would like to take time to honor a mother, like Kirsa, in your life please consider making a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this Mother's Day.

Make a donation

online and a letter of recognition of your gift will be sent to the mother you are honoring with your donation. You are also welcome to mail in a donation to: LLS, Attn: Mother's Day, 8111 LBJ Fwy., Ste 425, Dallas, TX 75251.

Thank you and Happy Mother's Day from the North Texas Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.