iwCLL 2013: Part 2: Dr. George Calin Explains more about the Critical Role of micro-RNA in CLL

Besides addressing our critical importance of needing to understand the biology of our cancer in order to stop it, in Part Two of my interview from iwCLL 2013, Dr. George Calin of MDACC gives us a brief history lesson on micro-RNA and its relevance for us in unlocking the mysteries of CLL.

He also reinforces and enhances our modern understanding that CLL is not just about our stupid clone or clones, but it is all about how that stupid clone or clones prospers and evolves with the support of many helper or nurse cells that have been tricked into coming to the cancer's aid. Micro-RNA is one way all these cells communicate.

Anti-micro-RNA therapies are already being explored in other cancers. See my immediate prior post.

More than that, he touches on one of my favorite themes: the need to have better predictive tests so that we can individualize therapies. He visualizes a time when, by measuring these tiny "non-coding" pieces of genetic material in the blood, we will be able to better predict what therapies will work for which patients, saving much unnecessary treatments with all the attendant risk of collateral damage.

In the second and final part of the interview, Dr.  Calin expands on the research that he is doing to help all of with CLL.


The abstracts from ASH have just been released and I am going to be very busy reviewing and digesting and commenting on some of the major ones here, but first, in lead up to ASH in December, I have several more very relevant video interviews including hearing from Dr. Kipps, Byrd, Pagel, Kay, and Sharman from the iwCLL meeting in Cologne to post here over the next few weeks.

This is the last  iwCLL interview that is mostly basic science.  The rest are more "clinical" and more immediately relevant.

I will be attending ASH again, and welcome your suggestions for questions and concerns for when I meet with the leading researchers. Drop me an email or comment and I'll try to help. After all, we are all in this together.

iwCLL 2013: Day One

So far iwCLL 2013 has been a very cutting edge and bench science driven conference. Great stuff, but not easy stuff to digest.

Tomorrow that changes with more "clinical" presentations.

I need to sleep and not blog, but expect video interviews when I get home from three of the speakers today: George Calin on micro-RNA, Juan Castro on the micro-environment, and Jan Burger on a review of all the mid morning presentations.

This is important stuff we patients need to understand and the doctors that I interviewed do a great job of making it accessible. This is the basic science that molds the future of therapy that they are discussing.

Spent hours reviewing the many excellent poster presentations.

One tidbit: Notch1 and 11q del may be mutually exclusive. Who knew?

My brain is exploding. So much new information.

I will try to hold your hand as I share over the next several weeks all that I have discovered here in Cologne on day one.

Met many old friends and made some new ones. Working hard on some patient advocacy plans with some of the people here. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow looks to be just as busy or busier with at least three interviews lined up, but everything changes at the last minute.

But my son and I will make the time to get out of the conference center and see the famous cathedral before we leave. That is a must. It is only a short walk (in the rain) from our hotel.

But first I must sleep.