ASH News Daily - Saturday, December 10, 2011 - (Page A-16)

Page A–16 ® ASH NEWS DAILY Image: colored scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a lung cancer cell. CLL Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: More Soil Than Sod? By Michael r. BiShop, Md Our achievements change lives. Our people inspire cures. At Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company located in Cambridge, MA, “We Aspire to Cure Cancer”. As a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, Millennium combines the agility, ideals and camaraderie of a start-up with the resources of Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company. The result is an entrepreneurial culture where the priorities are quality science and making a difference in patients’ lives and the communities we serve. Our people share a commitment to innovation in an environment where individual contributions are not just valued, but rewarded. Here you’ll enjoy outstanding benefits, a friendly, respectful atmosphere and a culture that promotes flexibility between your personal and professional life. Join Millennium and improve the lives of others while living yours to the fullest. To view our current career opportunities and apply online, visit: joinmillennium.com/37. ©2011 Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 we find some new dirt on this very common hematologic malignancy. We have come to learn that this disease is not only about monoclonal B cells, but about the environment in which they live. The soil seems to be as important as the sod, according to Dr. Jan Burger from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who J ust when it seemed we thought we knew what chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was, will lead off the Education Program on CLL with a session titled “CLL and the Micro-Environment,” taking place today from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in Hall AB of the San Diego Convention Center. For the past several years CLL re- Ash News Daily IO # 600945 House Ad #2 SIZE 4.75” x 3.5” NOTES B&W SCREEN search has focused on the leukemic cells themselves; however, over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that microenvironment has significant affects on disease progression in CLL as well as other B-cell malignancies. It is now known that both in the bone marrow and lymphatic tissues, CLL engages in interactions with stromal cells and matrix, which collectively are referred to as the “microenvironment.” These interactions between CLL and the microenvironment continue to be defined, but what is known is that these interactions impact CLL cell survival and proliferation, conferring resistance to conventional therapy. In light of these effects, there has been tremendous interest in therapeutically targeting the microenvironment. Our current knowledge of these interactions and potential targets for therapy will be highlighted during Dr. Burger’s presentation. We will also “dig deeper” as we delve into new insights on the pathophysiology of CLL from Dr. Peter Hillmen from St James’s University Hospital in Leeds. Dr. Hillmen’s presentation will further focus on the role of the microenvironment on CLL maintenance and progression through various receptors and pathways. He will also review CLL molecular markers and share how this information is being used to stratify patients into different treatment approaches, introducing the concept that our new understanding of the pathophysiology of CLL is leading to novel therapies and improved efficacy, even in refractory patients. Dr. Jennifer Brown from Dana- Farber Cancer Institute will review the current approaches to the management of patients with CLL who have failed to respond to or have relapsed soon after receiving conventional immune-chemotherapy. This is a clinically important group of patients, as they have a poor overall survival in contrast to the perceived survival among CLL patients. Traditionally this poor-risk patient population has been defined as having diseases that either do not respond or relapse within six months of receiving fludarabine. However, the definition is evolving with the »» CLL Page A-18 Saturday, December 10, 2011

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ASH News Daily - Saturday, December 10, 2011

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