Participants Wanted For CML Study to Detect Disease Progression

Editor's Note: Dr. Marlene Sabbath-Solitare tells me that this study is ongoing and is still open to new participants.

The Department of Pathology at the Saint Barnabas Health Care System in Toms River, N.J., USA, is seeking people with all stages of chronic myelgenous leukemia to participate in a research project.

This study involves the laboratory analysis of a small molecule called a methyl group attached to DNA from patients with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). An increase in the amount of these molecules indicates that the disease has progressed.

The ultimate aim of this study is to provide the clinician with the capability of identifying those patients who are about to enter a critical phase of the disease and who may require a change in therapy. Presently tumor progression cannot be easily inferred from clinical presentation.

We are requesting blood samples from each participant, periodically, as they routinely visit their doctor. A bone marrow sample may also be requested, if possible. There will be no cost to participants in providing these samples, and confidentiality will be strictly maintained.

All patients who have CML without exception are candidates for this study. The participants may be male or female, of any age or ethnic group, and at any stage of the disease. We are including those who are on chemotherapy and have had or are candidates for bone marrow transplantation.

Please contact us directly, or Mrs. Maryann Larangera, the clinical coordinator for this project, at (973) 322-5771, for all details.

Your participation would be greatly appreciated. This study is a collaborative effort with investigators associated with the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and the Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology in Israel, It is funded by Harvey Nussbaum Research Foundation at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and Seymour Feldman Leukemia Fund. The study has been reviewed and approved by the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Institutional Review Board.

Marlene Sabbath-Solitare, Ph.D. Section Chief; Diagnostic Molecular Pathology (973) 322-8248 e-mail: msabbath@sbhcs.com

N. Peter Zauber, M.D., Physician Investigator (973) 533-9299