Late-breaking data to be presented at the American Society of Hematology Annu...( (SAN FRANCISCO December 6 2008) Fou...),Health

(SAN FRANCISCO, December 6, 2008) Four studies highlighting late-breaking research advances in the treatment of cancer and sickle cell disease will be presented today at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Francisco, CA.

Results from a study examining the ability of an investigational agent to improve endothelial dysfunction, a malfunction in the inner lining of blood vessels, in patients with sickle cell disease will be featured at a press conference on Saturday, December 6, at 9:30 a.m. "Abnormal function of the cells lining blood vessels may contribute to the complications of sickle cell disease. Disruption in the synthesis of nitric oxide, an important regulator of blood vessel relaxation, contributes to these abnormalities," said Nancy Berliner, MD, 2009 ASH President and Chief of Hematology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and co-moderator of the press conference on the advances in screening and treatment for sickle cell disease. "This study showcases a novel investigational treatment that aims at improving nitric oxide production and reducing endothelial dysfunction."

Three other late-breaking studies showcasing treatment advances in blood cancers will be highlighted during a press conference on Saturday, December 6, at 2:00 p.m. This press conference will feature the results of a study examining the use of a rituximab-based combination therapy regimen for improving progression-free survival and complete response rates in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the first large-scale study examining mortality rates in patients with cancer taking erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for the treatment of anemia, and the discovery of a new tumor suppressor gene in patients with myeloproliferative disorders.

"There is now additional evidence concerning the use of ESAs in patients with cancer. Last year, ASH collaborated with the American Society of Clinical O
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