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Dr. Lou DeGennaro Discusses Blood Cancer Research

BIOtech Now interviews Dr. Lou DeGennaro, Chief Scientific Officer of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). LLS has funded over $600 million in research into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood cancer. Blood cancers include leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes. These cancers originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues. They are considered to be related cancers because they involve the uncontrolled growth of cells with similar functions and origins. The diseases result from an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes abnormal (malignant) and multiplies continuously. The accumulation of malignant cells interferes with the body's production of healthy blood cells. New cases of leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma accounted for 9.6 percent of the more than 1.4 million new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States last year, and caused the deaths of an estimated 52,910 people in the U.S. LLS-funded researchers have played a role in the discovery and development of every major therapy currently used to treat leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. LLS currently has a pipeline of 60 development stage projects and funds projects in the private sector as well as in academia. Dr. DeGennaro discusses LLS-backed research efforts and LLS presentations at the 11th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference Februrary 9-10, 2009 and the 2009 BIO International Convention, May 18-21 in Atlanta. Listen or download the program.