Interesting Info out of ASH

[Guest guest]

Hi all. Hope this finds everyone doing well.

Just read about Di Lindberg and am truly overwhelmed for the family.

She seemed like an angel - and is now at peace.

I don't think I shared this with the group - but I have been asked to

sit on the Eastern NC Chapter of the LLS as a patient advocate.

It's a humbling opportunity to represent the patients here in eastern

North Carolina. Please pray that I can add value to this incredible

organization.

Anyway, Dr. Tom Shea (a peach of a wonderful dr and well known here

in NC) from UNC Chapel Hill gave an ASH update on Leukemia last

evening at one of the LLS's info sessions. I apologize if Anjana or

anyone else has already posted this information already! : - )

He mentioned some interesting data on the IRIS 54 month study " Annual

Progression Events on First Line Imatinib (Gleevec) with minimum four

years of follow up " . Interesting, the opportunity for disease

progression seems to be highest in year two and then goes back down

significanty in year four.

Year Progression AccelPhase/BlastCris.

1st 3.4% 1.5%

2nd 7.5% 2.8%

3rd 4.8% 1.6%

4TH 1.5% 0.9%

These are really terrific findings - although I found it interesting

that progression during the 2nd year - spiked abit (not much though

in the grand scheme of things)

Other good news:

- At 54 months - more than 90% of patients randomized on Gleevec are

still alive

- Gleevec patients with CCR have good long-term outcomes - even those

with high risk Sokal score.

While we are CML patients - he noted that CLL (Chronic Lymph. Leuk)

is starting to be treated with thalidomide and they have seen good

results with that. I recall thalidomide being the culprit in birth

defects back in the 50's and 60's. He said it causes drowsiness and

it was sometimes given to pregnant women to help them sleep hence the

birth defects.

Anyway - again, I apologize if anyone posted this information prior.

I thought it was worth sharing since it's really another piece of

good news coming out of ASH.

Thanks all!

Barb Heathcote