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UK Leads National Childhood Leukemia Study
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 7, 2008) − UK HealthCare's Kentucky Children's
Hospital researchers will lead a national study for children with acute myeloid leukemia
(AML). The study is based on laboratory research that was performed at UK's Markey
Cancer Center. The principal investigator for the national study is Dr. Jeff Moscow, vice
chair and professor of pediatrics, division of hematology/oncology, University of
Kentucky College of Medicine and a physician at Kentucky Children's Hospital.
The study, sponsored by the Children's Oncology Group (COG), and
funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), involves children with AML who have
experienced either a relapse of their disease, or who were unable to achieve a
remission with standard therapy, Moscow says. The study will test the drug Bortezomib
(Velcade) in combination with chemotherapy. Bortezomib is a new drug that is used to
treat multiple myeloma in adults, but it has never before been used to treat leukemia in
children.
The clinical trial is the direct result of laboratory observations made at the UK
Markey Cancer Center by Dr. Craig Jordan. In a series of key studies, Jordan
demonstrated that primitive cells that give rise to leukemia cells, called leukemia stem
cells or leukemia initiating cells, are especially sensitive to Bortezomib in combination
with chemotherapy. Jordan is now at the University of Rochester.
“Our therapies are often aimed at the progeny of the cancer initiating cell, not at
the cancer initiating cell itself," said Moscow. "Dr. Jordan helped to show that in AML
the cells that initiate leukemia are biologically distinct from their progeny, and require a
different therapeutic approach. This trial is based on the hypothesis that we can improve
therapy by directing therapy at these primitive leukemia cells.”
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“This trial is a wonderful testament to the vision and dedication of the late Dr. Ben
Roach," said Craig T. Jordan, associate professor of medicine and cancer researcher at
the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York. "Over a decade ago, Dr.
Roach recognized the potential of our work and through the Markey Cancer Foundation
provided essential funding to support the laboratory studies that underpin the new trial. I
know he would be thrilled to see this work going forward for the benefit of children with
leukemia.”
"The main goal of this study is to find out what effects, good and/or bad, the
combination of Bortezomib with chemotherapy has on children and young adults with
refractory or relapsed AML," said Moscow, "and also to study leukemia stem cells’
biological response to the therapy.”
The total number of patients enrolled nationwide at 200 institutions is expected
be about 90. The co-principal investigator is Dr. Terzah Horton from Texas Children's
Hospital in Houston. Jennifer Ballard, a nurse with the UK pediatric oncology program,
will be the lead clinical research associate for the national study. Dr. Dianna Howard, a
medical oncologist at the UK Markey Cancer Center, will help with the enrollment of
young adults who are eligible for the study.
"We are able to initiate the study here at UK because of our excellent support
staff, and because of the generous support we have received from our community," said
Moscow. "It is really very gratifying that we have been able to take a laboratory
observation made at the UK Markey Cancer Center to a national study that has the
hope of improving the lives of children diagnosed with AML.”
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