How Does LLS Help Other Diseases?

Did you know that your donation not only helps people with Leukemia, Lymphoma, and other multiple myeloma but also benefits other diseases? Read this article below to find out more information.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds over 400 research grantees who are pursuing the causes and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma. In the course of this research, these scientists study various aspects of the normal and diseased immune system, the molecular causes of blood-related cancers and various treatment regimens and therapeutic agents. All of these research pursuits have significant impact on the treatment and cure of other diseases, including breast cancer, prostate cancer and other solid tumors, AIDS, autoimmune diseases and various other blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

Let's look at several examples of this "cross-functional" research. Treatment of breast cancer has directly benefited from Society funding of bone marrow/stem cell transplant research. New, intensive chemotherapeutic treatment of breast cancer with autologous bone marrow transplant is a currently investigated treatment option for women with advanced breast cancer. The Society has and is currently funding important research into stem cell and bone marrow transplantation. (Current committed funding impacting breast cancer research is $17.9 million.)

AIDS patients have likewise benefited from research funded by the Society. For patients with AIDS comes an increased risk (>80 times) of AIDS-associated lymphoma. Because highly active anti-retroviral therapies (HAART) reduces this risk, we have also funded research into opportunistic infections and into understanding and treating Kaposi’s sarcoma, an HIV-related cancer. This may prevent or limit HIV growth and reduce the risk of AIDS-associated lymphoma. (Current committed funding impacting AIDS research is $3.7 million.)

A recent "cross over" therapy involves the new, molecularly-targeted leukemia pill called GleevecTM. Gleevec is an orally administered drug that inhibits certain enzymes that are mutated and drive the growth of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. The Society has funded and continues to fund Dr. Brian Druker's work into this new therapeutic agent. A related enzyme is altered in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Gleevec is a powerful new tool in the treatment of GIST with long term remission occurring in 70% of patients, including those with distant metastatic tumors. (Current committed for research on GleevecTM is $11.6 million.)

Of course, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds research into the basic cellular mechanisms of growth regulation. Many genes that are mutated or altered in the evolution of various cancers are the same. These altered genes are called oncogenes (if they help stimulate growth) or tumor suppressor genes (if they promote the normal limitation of cellular growth). Obviously, research that sheds light on how these altered genes disrupt cellular growth regulation is important for the development of new therapies for all types of cancers harboring these mutated genes.


We thought this was fascinating information and helps to show that your donation is going beyond just specific cancer research. Let us know what you think by commenting below?

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**Prepared by Alan J. Kinniburgh, Ph.D., Vice President of Research, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 21 April 2004 For information on Society-funded research in specific areas, visit www.lls.org, click on “Research” then “Grants in Force” and do a search for your area of interest.**