Leukemia Therapeutic Program
Asuragen has profiled the expression of miRNAs in white blood cell populations from leukemia patients and identified a set of miRNAs that show consistently altered expression levels in leukemic cells. Introduction of some of these miRNAs reduces cell growth and viability of multiple leukemia cell lines. Animal studies are being initiated to verify that leukemia cells respond to the introduction of specific miRNAs in vivo.
Leukemia is a malignant disease (cancer) of the bone marrow and blood. It is characterized by the uncontrolled accumulation of blood cells. The major forms of leukemia are divided into four categories. Myelogenous and lymphocytic leukemia each have acute and chronic forms. The terms myelogenous or lymphocytic denote the cell type involved.
Major Types of Leukemia Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia(CML) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) |
Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that affects mostly cells that are unformed or primitive (not yet fully developed or differentiated). These immature cells cannot carry out their normal functions. Chronic leukemia progresses slowly and permits the growth of greater numbers of more developed cells, which can carry out some of their normal functions. Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that results in the accumulation of immature, functionless cells in the marrow and blood. The marrow often can no longer produce enough normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in virtually all leukemia patients. The lack of normal white cells impairs the body's ability to fight infections. A shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and allows greater numbers of more mature, functional cells to be made.
Leukemia accounts for ~5% of total cancer mortality. About 12,000 new cases of AML, 4,000 new cases of ALL, 5,000 new cases of CML, and 10,000 new cases of CLL are diagnosed each year in the United States. An estimated 33,440 new cases of leukemia will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Acute leukemias account for nearly 25 percent more of the cases than chronic leukemias. Most cases occur in older adults; more than half of all cases occur after age 67. Leukemia is expected to strike 11 times as many adults as children in 2004. About 30% of cancers in children at the age of 0-14 years are diagnosed as leukemia. The most common form of leukemia among children under 19 years of age is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.