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Newswise Moffitt Cancer Center researchers have discovered a mechanism that leads to resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma patients and are investigating strategies to counteract it. Targeted biological therapy can reduce toxicity and improve outcomes for many cancer patients, when compared to the adverse effects of standard chemotherapeutic drugs. However, patients often develop resistance to these targeted therapies, resulting in more aggressive cells that can spread to other sites or cause regrowth of primary tumors.

B-Raf is a protein that is frequently mutated in human cancers, leading to increased tumor cell growth, survival and migration. Drugs that target B-Raf or another protein in the same network called MEK have proved effective in clinical trials. Several B-Raf and MEK inhibitors have been approved with the combination of a B-Raf and a MEK inhibitor being the current standard of care for patients with B-Raf mutant melanoma. However over time many patients become resistant to B-Raf and B-Raf/MEK inhibitor therapy.

Moffitt researchers found that patients who are on B-Raf inhibitor drugs develop more new metastases than patients who are on standard chemotherapy. The researchers wanted to determine how this acquired resistance develops in order to devise better treatment options for patients. They found that melanoma cells that are resistant to B-Raf inhibitors tend to be more aggressive and invasive, thereby allowing the tumor to spread to a new organ site. They used a large screening approach and discovered that this resistance and aggressive behavior was due to high activity of a cell surface protein called EphA2, which is also found on glioblastoma stem cells.

Their study found that simply withdrawing the B-Raf or MEK inhibitor drugs reversed the cells aggressive behavior. This suggests that alternate dose scheduling where B-Raf and MEK inhibitors are given to patients intermittently may reduce the aggressiveness of the disease meaning patients could stay on therapy for more time, said Keiran S. Smalley, Ph.D., scientific director of the Donald A. Adam Comprehensive Melanoma Research Center of Excellence at Moffitt.

The research also showed that targeting EphA2 reduced the aggressive behavior of the melanoma cells. This suggests that drugs that target EphA2 may prevent the development of new disease in patients who receive B-Raf and B-Raf /MEK inhibitor therapy.

The study was published in the online edition of Cancer Discovery on Dec. 26. It was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 CA161107-01 and P50 CA168536-01A1), Melanoma and Sarcoma Groningen Foundation and the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation.

About Moffitt Cancer Center Located in Tampa, Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitts excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the top-ranked cancer hospital in the Southeast and has been listed in U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospitals for cancer since 1999. With more than 4,500 employees, Moffitt has an economic impact on Florida of nearly $1.6 billion. For more information, visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Moffitt Researchers Discover Mechanism Leading to Drug Resistance, Metastasis in Melanoma Patients

WASHINGTON

Plain old bad luck plays a major role in determining who gets cancer and who does not, according to researchers who found that two-thirds of cancer incidence of various types can be blamed on random mutations and not heredity or risky habits like smoking.

The researchers said on Thursday random DNA mutations accumulating in various parts of the body during ordinary cell division are the prime culprits behind many cancer types.

They looked at 31 cancer types and found that 22 of them, including leukemia and pancreatic, bone, testicular, ovarian and brain cancer, could be explained largely by these random mutations - essentially biological bad luck.

The other nine types, including colorectal cancer, skin cancer known as basal cell carcinoma and smoking-related lung cancer, were more heavily influenced by heredity and environmental factors like risky behavior or exposure to carcinogens.

Losing the lottery

Overall, they attributed 65 percent of cancer incidence to random mutations in genes that can drive cancer growth.

When someone gets cancer, immediately people want to know why, said oncologist Dr. Bert Vogelstein of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, who conducted the study published in the journal Science with Johns Hopkins biomathematician Cristian Tomasetti.

They like to believe there's a reason. And the real reason in many cases is not because you didn't behave well or were exposed to some bad environmental influence, it's just because that person was unlucky. It's losing the lottery.

Tomasetti said harmful mutations occur for no particular reason other than randomness as the body's master cells, called stem cells, divide in various tissues.

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Biological Bad Luck Blamed in Two-thirds of Cancer Cases

Bloodand Marrow Transplant Program (352)733-0972

The Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at UF Health is comprised of a specialized, comprehensive team that is available to assist you with your care throughout your transplant experience. The Program began in 1981 and is the states longest established transplant program. We have performed more than 2000 transplants for both adults and pediatrics for diseases such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphomas, neuroblastoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, testicular cancer, aplastic anemia, certain genetic disorders and immunodeficiency syndromes.

The Blood and Marrow Transplant Program is part of the UF Health Cancer Center, an interdisciplinary initiative connecting clinicians and scientists who perform original scientific research as well as conduct research protocols to enhance strategies for the diagnoses, treatment and prevention of cancer. You may be invited to participate in clinical trials which offer new tests or treatments that are appropriate for your disease.

Our multidisciplinary treatment team consists of experienced University of Florida transplant physicians, RN transplant coordinators, physician assistants, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and support staff. Our interdisciplinary team meets weekly to carefully review patient information and develop the best possible treatment plan for each individual. Our team works together to provide a comprehensive evaluation and determine the best course of treatment available. To augment the services of our multidisciplinary team, our patients benefit from numerous services including:

A pre-transplant evaluation with all tests done at Shands at UF usually takes three to five days to complete. You will undergo pre-BMT evaluation and counseling before you are admitted to the Shands at BMT unit. Your BMT evaluation typically consists of the following:

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call (352)733-0972

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Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant UF Health Cancer ...

Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) November 24, 2014

Dr. William Bennett, one of the top orthopedic surgeons in Florida and owner of Bennett Orthopedics and Sportsmedicine, recently announced the launch of his practices completely redesigned website. The website, which can be found at BennettOrthoSportsMed.com, helps clients connect to the talented doctors PRP, stem cells, arthritis, and pain and injury services.

When treating his patients, Dr. Bennett uses a variety of techniques; he is trained in a variety of procedures, such as nonsurgical and surgical treatment, physical therapy, and stem cell therapy. He is highly regarded in his field, especially because he provides alternatives to surgery when needed. Dr. Bennett has five years of experience and combines it with a minimally invasive approach, ensuring that clients always receive the most attentive, specialized, and comfortable care possible.

According to the website, Dr. Bennetts career has spanned almost 15 years. At present, he is the only doctor serving patients in Tampa to Port Charlotte with custom knee replacements and minimally invasive surgeries. Dr. Bennett is also the only practitioner performing platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy on clients with orthopedic needs.

With Dr. Bennetts technique, most patients can walk without a cane in two weeks, and some patients can even begin walking within two days.

Some of my former patients remarked that it feels like their normal knee, stated Dr. Bennett. Additionally, I, the surgeon, can not tell the difference between this custom knee and a normal knee when I perform my examinations.

Individuals interested in learning more about Dr. Bennett and PRP therapy in Sarasota can visit the orthopedic surgeons website for additional information. Clients can also subscribe to Dr. Bennetts Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn accounts for frequent updates about the doctors practice.

About Dr. William Bennett:

Designated one of the Top Orthopedic Surgeons in Sarasota by U.S. News and World Reports, Dr. Bennett has been practicing since 1995. He is a highly skilled, experienced orthopedic surgeon with dual fellowships in Sports medicine-arthroscopy and shoulder surgery. Sarasota Magazine and Castle Connolly Medical ranked him a Top Doctor for Orthopedic Surgery for 2013. For more information, please visit http://www.bennettorthosportsmed.com

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Sarasota Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. William Bennett Launches New Website

Blue Jackets winger Nathan Horton will probably never play another NHL game, stricken by a mysterious degenerative back injury that has made hockey impossible, and will probably require career-ending surgery if Horton hopes to live a pain-free life. It's a sad, shitty thing to happen to anyone, let alone a 29-year-old who was never not a very good hockey player when he was healthy.

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch has the story on Horton, and it's depressing for how quickly and inexorable the end of his career has advanced. It began last fall, Horton says, with some stiffness and discomfort and just got worse and worse, no matter what he did to try and fix it.

Stem cells. Epidurals. Acupuncture. Chiropractors. Massage therapy. So many MRIs.

"I've tried everything," Horton said. "I've seen so many doctors. So many people think they can fix me and they're so optimistic, and then I get optimistic, but then nothing changes. It's so frustrating."

Horton was the third overall pick by the Panthers in 2003, and put up 203 goals and 218 assists in 627 games with Florida, Boston, and Columbus. He lifted the Cup with the Bruins in 2011, and is in just the second year of a seven-year deal with the Blue Jackets. But he hasn't played since last April, when he suffered a groin injury caused by changing his stride to compensate for his back. His and the Blue Jackets' only option since then has been to wait, and to hope against probability that whatever's gone wrong with Horton's spine spontaneously repairs itself.

Barring that? Surgery, which would include implanting a titanium rod to fuse three or four of Horton's lumbar vertebrae. It'd fix the pain, and prevent Horton from playing top-level sports ever again. It's his choice, and but as he says, "at some point soon, we've got to make the call."

"I don't want to have surgery, because of what that means," Horton said, his voice breaking behind a smile. "I don't want to live with this pain, but I don't want to make that decision. It's hard for me to say that, at 29 years old, I'm done. I mean, really? Done at 29?"

[Columbus Dispatch]

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Nathan Horton's Career Is Probably Done And He's Really Sad

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Stem cells are said to be the Adam and Eve of all cells. They can be harvested for treating complex ailments. Diseases related to heart muscles, blood cells or even nerve cells can be cured using stem cell therapy. Our stem cell treatment centers in Florida offer you the opportunity to harvest your stem cells for any future treatment. But stem cells can be collected from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood and embryonic cells.

Of these three major sources harvesting from bone marrow is the easiest and done by most stem cell treatment centers in Florida. Alternatively, you can also get stem cells from a donor but finding a donor is a tricky business. For a successful transfusion of stem cells both, the person must have identical human leukocyte antigen or better known as HLA. The possibility of an identical match between two unrelated persons is one in 25000.

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Stem Cell Treatment Centers In Florida

The University of Floridas John Pastor reports that researchers at the university have programmed bone marrow stem cells to repair damaged retinas in mice. This suggests that there is potential to treat common causes of vision loss in humans, such as macular degeneration, which affects nearly 2 million people in the United States, and some forms of blindness related to diabetes. Researchers removed blood stem cells from the bone marrow of mice, modified the cells in cultures, and injected them back into the animals circulatory systems. From there, the stem cells were able to hone in on the eye injury and become retinal cells. At 28 days after receiving the modified stem cells, mice that had previously demonstrated no retinal function were no different than normal mice in electrical measures of their response to light. The University of Floridas College of Medicine reports that the success in repairing a damaged layer of retinal cells in mice implies that blood stem cells take

GAINESVILLE, Fla. University of Florida researchers were able to program bone marrow stem cells to repair damaged retinas in mice, suggesting a potential treatment for one of the most common causes of vision loss in older people.

The success in repairing a damaged layer of retinal cells in mice implies that blood stem cells taken from bone marrow can be programmed to restore a variety of cells and tissues, including ones involved in cardiovascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

To our knowledge, this is the first report using targeted gene manipulation to specifically program an adult stem cell to become a new cell type, said Dr. Maria B. Grant, a professor of pharmacology and therapeutics at UFs College of Medicine. Although we used genes, we also suggest you can do the same thing with drugs but ultimately you would not give the drugs to the patient, you would give the drugs to their cells. Take the cells out, activate certain chemical pathways, and put the cells back into the patient.

In a paper slated to appear in the September issue of the journal Molecular Therapy, scientists describe how they used a virus carrying a gene that gently pushed cultured adult stem cells from mice toward a fate as retinal cells. Only after the stem cells were reintroduced into the mice did they completely transform into the desired type of vision cells, apparently taking environmental cues from the damaged retinas.

After studying the cell-transformation process, scientists were able to bypass the gene manipulation step entirely and instead use chemical compounds that mirrored environmental conditions in the body, thus pointing the stem cells toward their ultimate identities as vision cells.

First we were able to show you can overexpress a protein unique to a retinal cell type and trick the stem cell into thinking it is that kind of cell, said Grant, who collaborated with Edward Scott, the director of the Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at UFs McKnight Brain Institute. As we proceeded, we found we could activate the stem cells by mimicking the bodys natural signaling channels with chemicals. This implies a whole new field of stem cell research that uses drug manipulation rather than genetic manipulation to send these immature cells along new pathways.

Scientists chose to build retinal pigment epithelial cells, which form the outer barrier of the retina. In addition to being very specialized and easy to identify, RPE cells are faulty in many retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, which affects nearly 2 million people in the United States, and some forms of blindness related to diabetes.

This work applies to 85 percent of patients who have age-related macular degeneration, Grant said. There are no therapies for this devastating disease.

The work was supported by the National Eye Institute. Researchers removed blood stem cells from the bone marrow of mice, modified the cells in cultures, and injected them back into the animals circulatory systems. From there, the stem cells were able to home in on the eye injury and become retinal cells.

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University of Florida Scientists Program Adult Stem Cells ...

Dr. Christopher R. Cogle has discovered that some types of leukemia can integrate into the lining of blood vessels, causing relapse in patients.

University of Florida researchers say they've made promising progress in tests and trials to improve leukemia treatment but expect it will be several more years before their work possibly brings a new drug to market.

Their goal is to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduce relapse and recurrence in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, a particularly deadly form of the blood cancer.

The five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with AML is about 24 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

In 2011, Dr. Christopher R. Cogle, an associate professor at the College of Medicine and scholar in clinical research for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, started clinical trials using an experimental drug on patients with AML.

Developed by drug manufacturer OxiGENE, the experimental drug, currently known as OXi4503, is intended to separate leukemia cells from the blood vessel walls, where researchers believe they embed and hide among the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels.

Cogle said there is a high level of relapse among leukemia patients and that led researchers to the belief that the cells were somehow "hiding out" and being missed by chemotherapy treatment.

"It dislodges the leukemia cells out of their nests," Cogle said of OXi4503. "We have data that shows once these cells get shaken out of their nests, they activate, they wake up. Then, they are more susceptible to traditional chemotherapy."

Right now, the drug is in its early stage of clinical trials. Cogle said it would likely take up to 10 years of additional trials and review before the drug might receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to go to market.

A recently released UF study also had promising findings for the basic premise of the drug, researchers said. Conducted by Cogle and Ed Scott, the director of the UF Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, the study injected human leukemia cells into white mice and then treated the mice with chemotherapy. The researchers then looked at why some leukemia cells survived and found that some were attaching to the blood vessel walls.

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UF researchers see progress in treating leukemia

Dr. Lewis J. Obi is pleased to announce the opening of the Cell Surgical Network of Florida (CSN Florida), an advanced Stem Cell Surgical Center and Stem Cell Research Facility in Jacksonville Florida. With more than three decades of plastic surgery experience in the area of cellular therapies and adult fat, Dr. Obi will spearhead this advanced stem cell research and cell based uses of this abundant resource. The Cell Surgical Network of Florida is a research affiliate of the Cell Surgical Network founded by Dr. Elliot Lander and Dr. Mark Berman in Los Angeles.

At our stem cell surgical center, we use adipose (fat) derived mesenchymal stem cells for deployment and clinical research. Early stem cell research was traditionally associated with the controversial use of embryonic stem cells. This new focus is on nonembryonic adult mesenchymal stem cells, which are found in a person's own blood, bone marrow and fat. Most stem cell treatment centers in the world are currently using stem cells derived from bone marrow. Recent technological advances have enabled us to use adipose (body fat) derived stem cells. Autologous stem cells from a person's own fat are easy to harvest safely under local anesthesia and are abundant in quantities up to 2500 times over quantities found in bone marrow. Although Dr. Obi has decades of experience with fat grafts, recent technological advancements now allow us to convert processed fat into a clear infra-natant pellet with millions of stem cells. This giant leap forward allows our stem cell surgical center to provide our patients with more predictable results in both cosmetic surgery and regenerative surgery procedures.

The Cell Surgical Network was founded by Dr. Elliot Lander and Dr. Mark Berman in 2010 as the California Stem Cell Treatment Center in Los Angeles. It has grown to 42 members nationally with an established IRB (Investigational Review Board). Dr. Lewis J. Obi became the first plastic surgeon affiliate more than a year ago and has contributed to the CSN National Network with lectures and a book publication. All of our affiliates are devoted to advancing access and quality care in the area of adult stem cell regenerative medicine. Our primary focus is to help people suffering from a variety of inflammatory and degenerative conditions. This patient/physician funded study has treated almost 4000 patients to date and with no serious complications. The IRB protocol is designed to study both the efficiency and safety of our stem cell surgical team of multidisciplinary physicians, unimpeded by commercial, insurance and governmental interests. The Cell Surgical Network is therefore highly committed to clinical research and the advancement of regenerative medicine. As a board certified plastic surgeon, the benefits to our cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery patients have surpassed Dr. Obi's greatest expectations.

Currently, all affiliate members use the same sterile closed surgical procedure to process fat using a mini-liposuction procedure in order to isolate (collect) and implant a patients own source of regenerative stem cells on the same day. The source of the regenerative stem cells actually comes from stromal vascular fraction (SVF) a protein rich segment from processed adipose tissue. Stromal vascular fraction contains a mononuclear cell line (predominantly autologous mesenchymal stem cells), macrophage cells, endothelial cells, red blood cells, and important growth factors that facilitate the stem cell process and promote their activity. Our technology allows us to isolate high numbers of viable stem cells that we then deploy during the same surgical setting. While vigilant about patient safety, we are also learning about which diseases respond best and which deployment methods are most effective. CSN employs a clinical research coordinator and an online database to collect valuable data from throughout the network of affiliates. Affiliates have the opportunity to share not only their data, but their experiences thus helping each other to higher levels of understanding and care.

Mission Statement

The affiliates of the Cell Surgical Network (CSN) are devoted toadvancing access and quality care in the area of adult stem cell regenerative medicine so we may help people suffering from a variety ofdegenerative and inflammatory conditions. In contrast to our 41 other affiliates nationally, The Cell Surgical Network of Florida is the only fully licensed ambulatory surgical center with more than four years of experience in the use of adult stem cells in plastic surgery.

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Stem Cell Surgery at the Cell Surgical Network of Florida

Stem Cell Therapy

At Florida Spine and Joint Institute, we see thousands of patients who suffer from acute and chronic pain, including:

We aspire to perform the most effective treatment possible. In the past, we were limited to repairing the mechanical structure of the injured part with plates, screws, rods, fusions and/or replacements. Now, with the evolution of technology, we have the capability of addressing the underlying biological problem.

We all have cells living dormant in our body that can be activated by disease, injury, or inflammation known as stem cells.

Stem cells can transform into a variety of tissue types, including nerve cells, muscle cells, blood, bone and more. This is called, DIFFERENTIATION.

Since their discovery in the 1960s, stem cells have been used to treat a myriad of ailments, including: Leukemia & Other forms of cancer Parkinsons & Crohns Disease, Lou Gehrigs Disease Diabetes & Ocular degeneration Heart Disease, Arthritis, & more The Florida Spine and Joint Institute uses stem cell technology to treat disorders. We continually discover better ways to treat our patients and actively research to advance the field. WE DO NOT USE EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS!

Some stem cell treatments involve using stem cells from the patients own body. These are obtained from either fat or bone marrow. The cells are processed and re-injected. This has been routine therapy in the United States since the mid 1980s. Approximately one million patients have been treated since. But the quantity and quality of the stem cells differ from patient to patient. Research shows that as we age, the number of viable stem cells in our body depletes.

The stem cells we use are called Placental Matrix-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) and are derived from placenta tissue called Chorion. Cells of the Chorion are derived from the fetal mesoderm, which is responsible in forming our musculoskeletal and connective tissue for: Bones Ligaments Tendons Muscles

These MSCs are harvested from donated human placenta after normal, healthy c-section deliveries in the United States. Donations are voluntary with informed consent from the mother. They are rigorously screened with a full medical and social history; and extensive laboratory studies including negative serology screen are performed.

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Stem Cell Therapy - Florida Spine & Joint Institute, Inc |