Findings Outline New Therapeutic Considerations in Malignant & Non-Malignant Hematologic Disorders
December 4, 2015—(NEW YORK, NY)—Investigators at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care (MECCC), Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s NCI–designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center and The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore will present their research findings at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 57th Annual Meeting and Exposition. Presentations include the first report on a genetic risk factor for avascular necrosis associated with treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children along with new insights into the molecular basis for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a novel approach to the treatment of this disease. ASH 2015 will take place December 5-8, 2015 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Below are the Montefiore and Einstein oral presentations that will take place during the meeting. Researchers are available for media interviews.
1. Homozygosity for the 2R Tandem Repeat Polymorphism in the Thymidylate Synthase Promoter is Associated with Increased Risk for Bony Morbidity Among Children Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on DFCI Protocol—Presented by Peter D. Cole, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, Einstein, and attending physician, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, director, Hematologic Malignancy Service, Montefiore. Session: 612. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Clinical Studies: Special Aspects of Childhood ALL.
Sunday, December 6, 1:00pm; Level 3, W331 (Orange County Convention Center).
2. Minimal Reduction of PU.1 is Sufficient to Induce a Preleukemic State and Promote Development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia—Presented by Britta Will, Ph.D,, assistant professor of medicine (oncology) and of cell biology, Einstein. Session: 602. Disordered Gene Expression in Hematologic Malignancy, including Disordered Epigenetic Regulation I.
Sunday, December 6; 4:30 PM, Level 3, W307 (Orange County Convention Center).
3. New Allosteric Inhibitors of Mutant IDH1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia–Presented by Ujunwa
Cynthia Okoye-Okafor, M.D.-Ph.D. student in the lab of Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of cell biology and of medicine (oncology), Einstein, and associate chair for translational research, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Montefiore. Session: 604. Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Resistance in Myeloid Diseases: Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Exploiting New Therapeutic Targets and Novel Technologies.
Monday, December 7, 4:30 PM, Level 3, W307 (Orange County Convention Center).
4. Therapeutic Efficacy of Semisynthetic Supra Perfusion Resuscitation Fluids, EAF Peg Alb and EAF Peg Hb, Are Differentiated By Their Cerebral Effects in Animal Models of Sickle Cell Disease–Presented by Craig Branch, Ph.D., director of the Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Einstein. Session: 401. Basic Science and Clinical Practice in Blood Transfusion: Outcomes with Transfusion and Infusion Therapies Across Diverse Clinical Settings.
Monday, December 7, 5:30 PM. Level 3, W308 (Orange County Convention Center).
Montefiore and Einstein will also have three poster presentations focusing on improving outcomes for SCD.
In addition, Einstein medical student Nicholas Farris, who is mentored by Henny Billett, M.D., chief of the Division of Hematology, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Einstein and Montefiore, will receive an ASH Abstract Achievement Award for “Lack of Association of CNS Lesion Number with Cognitive Performance and Cerebral Blood Flow in Sickle Cell Disease.” Weijuan Li, Ph.D., will also receive the 2014 HONORS award for her research with Amit Verma, M.B.B.S., on MDS stem cells. Dr. Will and Dr. Okoye-Okafor will also receive abstract achievement awards for their research.