Latest news from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center on Newswise en-us Copyright 2024 Newswise 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/genetic-cause-identified-in-rare-pediatric-brain-tumor/?sc=rsin /articles/genetic-cause-identified-in-rare-pediatric-brain-tumor/?sc=rsin Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:05:00 EST Researchers found a way of differentiating angiocentric gliomas from other low-grade pediatric brain tumors and developed a pathological test that will help children avoid unnecessary and potentially damaging additional therapies. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/normal-enzyme-aids-a-mutant-one-to-fuel-blood-cancer-s-growth-the-combination-of-these-enzymes-also-linked-to-resistance-to-treatment-boston-feb-10-2014-reinforcing-the-need-to-look-beyond-genomic-alterations-to-understand-the-complexity-of-cancer-researc/?sc=rsin /articles/normal-enzyme-aids-a-mutant-one-to-fuel-blood-cancer-s-growth-the-combination-of-these-enzymes-also-linked-to-resistance-to-treatment-boston-feb-10-2014-reinforcing-the-need-to-look-beyond-genomic-alterations-to-understand-the-complexity-of-cancer-researc/?sc=rsin Mon, 10 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST A normal enzyme called SYK pairs with FLT3, the most commonly mutated enzyme in acute myelogenous leukemia, to promote cancer growth & resistance to treatment with FLT3-blocking drugs. In mouse model, treatment with a drug combination to inhibit both enzymes worked better than either drug alone. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/long-term-survival-among-patients-with-most-common-childhood-brain-tumor-is-high-lower-if-treatment-included-radiation/?sc=rsin /articles/long-term-survival-among-patients-with-most-common-childhood-brain-tumor-is-high-lower-if-treatment-included-radiation/?sc=rsin Mon, 03 Feb 2014 15:40:00 EST Study of long-term survival of children with most common pediatric brain tumor finds almost 90 percent are alive 20 years later and few died from the tumor as adults. However, children treated with radiation had significantly lower long-term survival rates than children who were not radiated. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/mutation-discovery-may-improve-treatment-for-rare-brain-tumor-type/?sc=rsin /articles/mutation-discovery-may-improve-treatment-for-rare-brain-tumor-type/?sc=rsin Sun, 12 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST Scientists have identified a mutated gene that causes a type of tenacious, benign brain tumor that can have devastating lifelong effects. Currently, the tumor can only be treated with challenging repeated surgeries and radiation. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/antipsychotic-drug-exhibits-cancer-fighting-properties/?sc=rsin /articles/antipsychotic-drug-exhibits-cancer-fighting-properties/?sc=rsin Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST In a prime example of finding new uses for older drugs, studies in zebrafish show that a 50-year-old antipsychotic medication called perphenazine can actively combat the cells of a difficult-to-treat form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The drug works by turning on a cancer-suppressing enzyme called PP2A and causing malignant tumor cells to self-destruct. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/less-painful-drug-delivery-for-pediatric-leukemia-patients-is-safe-effective-research-suggests/?sc=rsin /articles/less-painful-drug-delivery-for-pediatric-leukemia-patients-is-safe-effective-research-suggests/?sc=rsin Tue, 10 Dec 2013 08:30:00 EST Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of pediatric cancer, can safely receive intravenous infusions of a reformulated mainstay of chemotherapy that has been delivered via painful intramuscular injection for more than 40 years, research suggests. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/rare-cause-of-anemia-in-newborns-often-overlooked-research-suggests/?sc=rsin /articles/rare-cause-of-anemia-in-newborns-often-overlooked-research-suggests/?sc=rsin Sat, 07 Dec 2013 18:30:00 EST Some babies diagnosed with and treated for a bone marrow failure disorder, called Diamond Blackfan Anemia, may actually be affected by a very rare anemia syndrome that has a different disease course and treatment, say scientists from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/international-gene-therapy-trial-for-bubble-boy-disease-shows-promising-early-results/?sc=rsin /articles/international-gene-therapy-trial-for-bubble-boy-disease-shows-promising-early-results/?sc=rsin Sat, 07 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST Researchers reported promising outcomes data for the first group of boys with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, a fatal genetic immunodeficiency also known as "bubble boy" disease, who were treated as part of an international clinical study of a new form of gene therapy. Its delivery mechanism was designed to prevent the leukemia that arose a decade ago in a similar trial in Europe. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/newly-discovered-gene-regulator-could-precisely-target-sickle-cell-disease/?sc=rsin /articles/newly-discovered-gene-regulator-could-precisely-target-sickle-cell-disease/?sc=rsin Thu, 10 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST A research team from Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and other institutions has discovered a new genetic target for potential therapy of sickle cell disease (SCD). The target, called an enhancer, controls a molecular switch in red blood cells called BCL11A that, in turn, regulates hemoglobin production. The researchers--led by Daniel Bauer, MD, PhD, and Stuart Orkin, MD, of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's--reported their findings today in Science. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center /articles/five-things-parents-of-children-with-cancer-should-know/?sc=rsin /articles/five-things-parents-of-children-with-cancer-should-know/?sc=rsin Thu, 12 Sep 2013 16:00:00 EST September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Lisa Diller, MD, chief medical officer of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, advises parents to remain positive. Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center