Researchers from The University of Kansas Cancer Center are involved in the presentation of nearly 50 research studies at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, to be held virtually Dec. 5-8 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 18,000 members from nearly 100 countries, the ASH is the world’s largest professional society serving both clinicians and scientists around the world who are working to conquer blood diseases.
The KU Cancer Center is one of only 71 cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute because they meet rigorous standards for transdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research focused on developing new and better approaches to preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. Its catchment area includes the state of Kansas as well as western Missouri.
“These 49 research studies represent the hard work of our many researchers focused on blood diseases,” said Roy Jensen, M.D., director of the KU Cancer Center. “This includes innovations in immunotherapy, advances in leukemia and significant work in stem cell transplants. While the conference is virtual this year, the KU Cancer Center will be well represented.”
While a full list of abstracts involving KU Cancer Center researchers can be found online, three of the most significant are listed below.
- 1091: Germline Variants Associated with Cancer Predisposition and Bone Marrow Failure Are Common in KMT2A-r Infant Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients; Poster Presentation: Sarah Mc Dermott, D.O., Midhat S. Farooqi, M.D., Ph.D., Azhar Saeed, M.D., Byunggil Yoo, M.S., Emily Farrow, Ph.D., CGC, Neil Miller, Patrick A. Brown, M.D., and Erin Guest, M.D.
- 3260: First-in-Human Phase I Trial of Adoptive Immunotherapy with Ex Vivo Expanded and Activated Γδ T Cells Following Haploidentical Bone Marrow; Poster Presentation: Lawrence S. Lamb Jr., Ph.D., Melissa Jo Beelen, Samantha Langford Youngblood, B.S., Rupal Soder, Ph.D., Sunil Abhyankar, M.D. and Joseph P. McGuirk, D.O.
- 747: Economic and Clinical Burden of Virus Associated Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Patients Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Session Name: Health Services Research—Malignant Conditions (Lymphoid Disease) Time: 2:45 p.m. Program: Oral Presentation: Presenter: Joseph P. McGuirk, D.O., The University of Kansas Cancer Center
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About The University of Kansas Cancer Center:
The University of Kansas Cancer Center is transforming cancer research and clinical care by linking an innovative approach to drug discovery, delivery and development to a nationally-accredited patient care program. Our consortium center includes cancer research and health care professionals associated with the University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Health System; the University of Kansas, Lawrence; The Stowers Institute for Medical Research; Children’s Mercy; and in partnership with members of the Masonic Cancer Alliance.
About the University of Kansas Medical Center:
The University of Kansas Medical Center’s mission is to educate exceptional health care professionals through a full range of undergraduate, graduate, professional, postdoctoral and continuing education programs in the schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions. KU Medical Center also advances the health sciences through world-class research programs; provides compassionate and state-of-the-art patient care in an academic medical center environment; and works with communities in every Kansas county to improve the health of Kansans.
