Science Stories
As we deepen our commitment to oncology, we’re focused on bringing forward meaningful innovation for patients, especially those facing rare and aggressive cancers like H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma. With the FDA approval of the first treatment for this cancer, there is new hope for patients and families who are navigating this life-threatening disease.
There were approximately 17-18 million new cancer cases diagnosed worldwide in 2018, of which about 7% – or 1.2 million people – were blood cancers. While tremendous progress in the treatment of these cancers has been made and survival rates for common blood cancers have consistently improved over time, there is still work to be done. Certain blood cancers, like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL), can be more difficult to treat because they are rare and have a more aggressive nature.
Every three minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Fast-growing blood cancers like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can become life-threatening if left untreated because they can quickly spread to other parts of the body, including the brain and spinal cord. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can provide an important option in improving outcomes for appropriate patients.
VOD, also known as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, begins in the liver and can quickly affect other vital organs, most notably the kidneys and lungs. It is a rare and potentially deadly complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) occurring in approximately 9-14% of HSCT patients.