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Group Leader:
Research Overview 2. Molecular Genetics. The aim of this research group is to better understand the genetic nature of blood cancers, and thus to improve diagnosis and therapy. Particular fields of activity are the acute and chronic leukaemias and the myeloproliferative diseases. 3. Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation. As a research centre accredited by the Centre for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research we maintain an active research interest in all forms of haematopoietic stem cell research including unrelated and cord blood transplantation. The newly formed Cell and Molecular Therapies Unit will allow us to expand therapy options for our patients. 4. Iron overload. Deposition of excessive body iron can be a particular problem in patients with haematological cancers who require regular blood transfusions. With the recent availability of new orally acting agents to remove iron store we are setting up a program to use MRI scanning to evaluate the cardiac effect of iron-overload and to monitor its depletion. 5. Clinical Trials. To improve treatment and care of our patients through the active participation in well conducted clinical trials.
2. Molecular Genetics – Members of the Institute of Haematology (Dr Alberto Catalano and A/Prof Harry Iland) at RPAH, in collaboration with colleagues in Victoria have recently identified a new variant form of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (a rapidly life-threatening blood disorder with a specific genetic abnormality). Fortunately it usually responds to treatment with chemotherapy and a retinoic acid derivative, although not all patients are cured. In the process of evaluating the benefit of arsenic therapy in this disease, we identified a new form of acute promyelocytic leukaemia, and have succeeded in characterising the genetic abnormality that is responsible for this variant. This work was presented at the American Society of Hematology in 2006. Future studies will determine what drugs are effective in this new type of leukaemia and will enhance our understanding of how genetic abnormalities result in bone marrow disorders. 3. Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation. Ongoing accreditation as a Research Centre of the Centre for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research A/Prof Gibson is a member of the Lymphoma and the Myeloma scientific advisory committees. In addition the recently formed the Cell and Molecular Therapy Unit is the first adult transplant centre in NSW to gain accreditation from the Therapeutic Goods Authority. An establishment grant for mesenchymal stem cell research has been received from the Leukaemia Foundation (Dr Larsen). 4. Clinical Trials. Active participation on clinical (therapy) trials through the Australian and New Zealand Leukaemia and Lymphoma Study Group as well as a number of other national and international organisations. A new highlight is studies evaluation iron overload in or patients and evaluationg new therapies. RPA will be the lead site in a multi-centre clinical trial on cardiac MRI in the measurement of iron overload in patients with Myelodysplasia, following stem cell transplantation and thalassaemia (A/Prof Ho).
Peer reviewed Journals 2. AR. Alhaliq, D. Joshua, G. Kershaw, S. Dunkley The Diamed assay has a poor positive predictive value for HIT in a tertiary hospital referral setting. Int. Jnl. Lab. Hem. 2007; 29: 69-70. 3. RH Aster, BR Curtis, DW Bougie, S Dunkley, A Greinacher, TE Warketin and BH Chong.Thrombocytopenia associated with the use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors: position paper of the ISTH working group on thrombocytopenia and GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors On Behalf of the scientific and standardization committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. J Thromb Haemost 2006; 4: 678-9. 4. Belov E et al (including G Young) Analysis of human leukemias and lymphomas using extensive immunophenotypes from an antibody microarray. Brit J Haem 2006;135:184–197 5. Brown R. (2006) CD32-mediated suppression of plasma cells in patients with multiple myeloma. Haematologica. 91:869 6. Chng, K., Larsen, S.R., Zhou, S., Wright, J.F., Martiniello-Wilks, R. & Rasko, J.E. (2007) Specific adeno-associated virus serotypes facilitate efficient gene transfer into human and non-human primate mesenchymal stromal cells. J Gene Med, 9, 22-32. 7. Cook G et al (inc Gibson J). The roel of high dose therapy and stem cell rescue in the management of T-Cell malignant lymphomas (TCL). A BSBMT and ABMTRR study. Bone Marrow Transplantation 2007 (in press) 8. Dunkley S, JF Arthur, S Evans, EE Gardiner, Y Shen, RK Andrews.A familial platelet function disorder associated with abnormal signalling through the glycoprotein VI pathway Br J Haematol. 2007; 137: 569-77. 9. Dunkley S, Kershaw G, Young G, S Matthews and F Rennison. Rituximab treatment of mild haemophilia A with inhibitors: a proposed treatment protocol. Haemophilia 2006;12:663-667 10. Levesque, J.P., Winkler, I.G., Larsen, S.R. & Rasko, J.E. (2007) Mobilization of bone marrow-derived progenitors. Handb Exp Pharmacol, 3-36. 11. Ling S, Joshua DE, Watson G, Gibson J, Iland HJ, Young GA, Ho PJ (2006). Transformation and progression of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia following cladribine therapy in two cases – natural evolution or iatrogenic causation? Am J Hematol 81:110-4 12. Navarro et al (inc Gibson J). Impact of body mass index on mortality of patients with lymphoma undergoing autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation. Bilo Blood Marrow Transplantation (2006)12; 541-551 13. Nivison-Smith I et al (inc Gibson J). Allogenic haemopoietic cell transplants in Australia, 1996-2004. A multicentre retrospective comparison of the use of peripheral blood stem cells with bone marrow. Bone marrow Transplantation (in press 2007) 14. Osborne RH Lourenco RD, Dalton A, Houltram J, Doton D, Joshua DE, Lindeman R, Ho PJ (2007) Quality of life related to oral versus subcutaneous iron chelation: a time trade off study. Value in Health (in press). 15. Sanders J, Crawford B, Gibson J, Ho PJ, Iland H, Joshua D (2007) Is there a case for the early use of bisphosphonates in smouldering myeloma and MGUS? Int J of Laboratory Haematology (in press) 16. Shortt J, Scott Dunkley, Kevin Rickard, Ross Baker and Alison Street.Efficacy and safety of a high purity, double virus inactivated factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrate (Biostate®) in patients with von Willebrand disorder requiring invasive or surgical procedures Haemophilia 2007; 13: 144-48. 17. Sze DM-Y, Brown R, Yang S, Ho PJ, Gibson J, Joshua D (2006). The use of thalidomide in myeloma therapy as an effective anticancer drug. Curr Canc Drug Targets 6:325-31 18. Tay L and Gibson J Assessing lymphadenopathy in Adults: A systematic approach. Medical Progress 2006,203-8 19. Viiala N, Gibson J. An approach to the assessment of lymphadenopathy. Medical Observer (2007, January 19th) 23-25 20. Young G & Iland H. Clinical perspectives in lymphoma. Intern Med J. 2007;37(7):478-84 |
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