FEW FACTS/10 news by HEMOnc today

1. BMI (body mass index) did not influence survival in early breast cancer women who received adhuvant therapy.  This the work by EWERTZ et al. like any thing these day there was a trend toward benefit for those with BMI less than 30.  

2. Reinfusion of Autologous T-cell containing a chimeric protein combining  CD19 Antigen (CART 19 cells)
showed effective therapeutic effect in CLL.

3.Xarelto, a new anti-Xa was approved by the FDA in November 2012. 

4. Adding Aspirin after discontinuation of Coumadin reduced recurrence rate of Thrombotic events.

5. BRAF inhibition and anti-CTLA4 Tremelimumab (+/- Interferon ) are the new kids on the Melanoma block!  On the other spectrum, Taxol Carboplatin and Sorafenib failed to improve survival.
Trametinib may have activity in BRAF mutated Melanoma.

6. Zaltrap /Regorafenib has been approved in Metastatic Colorectal cancer.  it is It is an anti-Angiogenesis agent by trapping VEGF A, B prior to its link to their respective receptors

7.  Fibulin-3 an early biomarker for Mesothelioma?  read the article...

8. Adding Avastin to Standard Taxane or Adriamycin based chemotherapy failed to improve survival in triple negative breast cancer as reported by Researcher in Scotland.

9. ZOLINZA (histone Deacetylase inhibitor ) may have a role in modulating Graft Vs Host (GVHD) in patients

10. Only a third of  ITP patients who stopped Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonist (ELtrombopag) maintained a Platelet count 20-30,000 above the initial PLT count after 6 months of stopping the drug.