Researchers have identified a potential marker for leukemic relapse!

The development of simple tests to predict a leukemic relapse in young patients is a step closer thanks to researchers from the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center and the University of Montreal. Approximately 20 percent of young leukemia patients who are treated with stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood will experience leukemic relapse. The researchers’ findings, published recently inBlood, demonstrate that the blame falls partially on a subset of white blood cells called “T cells.” Until now, this process had been poorly understood.

Clinician-scientists in the Princess Margaret Cancer Program have found a promising approach to treating leukemia, using an old drug in a new way.
The proof-of-concept research published today in Cancer Cell (10.1016/j.ccr.2011.10.015) describes how the Canadian team discovered that the antibiotic tigecycline targets and destroys leukemia stem cells by cutting off the cell’s energy production.
 
“If you think of all the cells in the body as a power grid, we’ve discovered that tigecycline can cause a power outage in leukemia stem cells, while still keeping the lights on in all the healthy cells,” says Dr. Aaron Schimmer, clinician-scientist at the Campbell Family Institute for Cancer Research in the Princess Margaret Cancer Program, University Health Network. He is also an associate professor in the departments of medicine, medical biophysics, and Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto (U of T).

The Laboratory for Developmental Genetics at USC has confirmed cytomegalovirus (CMV) as a cause of the most common salivary gland cancers. CMV joins a group of fewer than 10 identified oncoviruses — cancer-causing viruses — including HPV.

The findings, published online in the journal Experimental and Molecular Pathology over the weekend, are the latest in a series of studies by USC researchers that together demonstrate CMV’s role as an oncovirus, a virus that can either trigger cancer in healthy cells or exploit mutant cell weaknesses to enhance tumor formation.

Lead author Michael Melnick, professor of developmental genetics in the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and Co-Director of the Laboratory for Developmental Genetics, said the conclusion that CMV is an oncovirus came after rigorous study of both human salivary gland tumors and salivary glands of postnatal mice.
CMV’s classification as an oncovirus has important implications for human health. The virus, which has an extremely high prevalence in humans, can cause severe illness and death in patients with compromised immune systems and can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to CMV for the first time while pregnant. It may also be connected to other cancers besides salivary gland cancer, Melnick added.

Legendary rockers Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of the Who say they owe much of their musical success to teenagers.
In a heartfelt repayment of that debt, the two today announced the launch of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program, which will serve teens and young adult cancer patients at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
The new program — the first of its kind in the United States — will build on the previous successful efforts of the Teenage Cancer Trust, which has helped fund 19 special teen cancer units in the United Kingdom.
 
The vision of the UCLA Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program is to ensure that every young person receives the best possible care and professional support to help them meet the physical and emotional challenges of a cancer diagnosis. The belief is that teenagers and young adults shouldn’t stop enjoying their youth just because they have cancer.
“At a time when your body is changing, your social life is everything and you’re still trying to figure out who you are, getting cancer can seem like an impossible blow to take,” Daltrey said.

The Purple Society and Chili’s have partnered to bring you PURPLE PEPPER DAYS! Visit your local Chili’s restaurant the FIRST Tuesday of every month and 10% of the proceeds from that day will go to The Purple Society!! So you can eat like royalty while helping families facing childhood cancer!
 
:: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FLYER TO BRING WITH YOU ::
 
YOU MUST TELL YOUR SERVER THAT YOU ARE THERE FOR PURPLE PEPPER DAYS!!!
 
This is such a perfect partnership for us! As many of you know Chili’s has played such a large part in our journey. Chili’s donated the Chili’s building at St. Jude Research hospital, where Nitalia was treated for over 2 years. Every day we walked into that building looking up at the big Chili’s logo. That building is incredible, perfectly built for the kids that are going through radiation treatment. There is a big play area, computers, and a huge fish tank that we sat with Nitalia in front of.

The Purple Society on Fox News from The Purple Society on Vimeo.

Fox News covered The Purple Society in a beautiful video piece that aired yesterday. The reporter and cameraman that came out were so moved by Nitalia’s story & what The Purple Society has accomplished in such a small amount of time, that they actually extended the piece from its original length. Thank you so much!
 
We have been so focused on providing families with resources and the tools they need that we really have not told the world about what we are doing. It’s time to let everyone know!
 
Please reach out to your local news stations and spread the word! Heck, reach out to Opra, Ellen, The Today Show…why not? We are doing something that is helping families in their darkest hour…What better cause is there?
 
In todays “shock value, it’s all about me” world, The Purple Society is a spark of light that WILL spread into a flame then into an INFERNO!!!
 
It will be ALL OF YOU that make that happen!!! 
IT’S TIME TO START OUR MOVEMENT!