July 29, 2005 (Vol. 2, No. 3) The LTFU newsletter is sent quarterly to people who have undergone treatment through Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's transplant program. Read this e-newsletter online at: http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/enews/ltfu-enews/2005-07/ Dear Friends: In this issue of the LTFU Newsletter, we provide information on the development of techniques that have made stem-cell transplantation available to patients for whom transplant was previously not an option. Even though most of our readers have already had a transplant, and hopefully will not need another, we understand that many of you continue to be interested in new and innovative transplant techniques and research being performed at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. We also know that many of you act as a resource in your community for others who might be facing the prospect of a stem-cell transplant. We hope that this information will be interesting and helpful to you. Best regards, Paul Martin, M.D. LTFU Director Frequently Asked Questions Mini-transplants 1. How is rejection prevented and controlled when the patient's own immune system is still functioning in a mini (non-myeloablative) stem-cell transplant? First, cells from a fully HLA-matched donor are used whenever possible to reduce the risk of rejection. Radiation and drugs are also used to suppress the patient's immune system. Read more details at: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/clinical/ltfu/faqs/mini_transplants.html#a 2. What is "mixed chimerism" and how does it relate to mini stem-cell transplants? Chimerism is a condition where cells in an organism come from two different individuals. The term "mixed" chimerism means that some cells came from the donor and some came from the patient. Read more detatils at: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/clinical/ltfu/faqs/mini_transplants.html#b 3. If mini stem-cell transplants are so much easier on the patient, why are myeloablative transplants still being done? Unfortunately, mini or non-myeloablative transplants can't be used in every situation. Further research is needed to determine whether mini-transplant is a safe and effective treatment for all types of disease that are treated by stem-cell transplant. Read more details at: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/clinical/ltfu/faqs/mini_transplants.html#c Former Patient Profile Respect for Research Maria Voytko didn't major in science in college. But scientific research is something she finds as important as any laboratory scientist does — because it saved her life. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/patient/patient_stories/maria.html Staff Profile Amazing patients are 'an inspiration' Graduating from college with a degree in photography, Courtney Barry hadn't quite pictured herself as a patient-care coordinator in the Hutchinson Center's Long-Term Follow-Up Program. But when her first job out of school turned out to be as a scheduler for a local health-care group, she got an unexpected taste of just how rewarding a career dedicated to patient care could be. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/clinical/ltfu/staff/barry.html Featured Readings Nothing small about mini-transplants It's called a "mini-transplant" but there's nothing diminutive about this innovative and lifesaving therapy. First developed at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in 1997, the mini-transplant is offering new hope for older patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other serious blood diseases — a population that is often medically unfit to withstand the rigors of a conventional blood (hematopoietic) stem-cell transplant. For more information, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/clinical/ltfu/news/article2.html Educational Events Brown Bag Discussion This group provides peer support and education to participants. All transplant and returning follow-up patients are welcome to attend and share their experiences. Participation can be in person or by conference call. A faculty member will join us one or two weeks a month to provide insight and education on various aspects of the transplant process. This group is co-facilitated by a clinical social worker and an LTFU nurse. Bring your lunch if pressed for time. Space is limited to 50 participants. When: Every Thursday, 12-1 p.m. Where: Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, 825 Eastlake Ave. E., Sixth Floor, Room 23 To participate in the discussion via conference call, dial 1-620-782-8214. At the prompt, enter 19427#. You will be charged a long-distance fee. If you need financial help, we can provide you with a phone card. Questions? Contact Noelle Meluskey at (206) 288-1137. If you have any medical or long-term follow-up questions, call (206) 667-4415. If you have comments or questions about the newsletter or would like to be added to or deleted from our mailing list, contact Kathy Erne at (206) 667-4745 or by e-mail at ltfunews@fhcrc.org. You are also welcome to subscribe to receive an electronic version of the newsletter via e-mail by visiting http://www.fhcrc.org/about/pubs/enews/ltfu-enews/index.html. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home of three Nobel laureates, is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. For information on Fred Hutchinson's privacy policy, go to: http://www.fhcrc.org/termsofuse_privacypolicy.html ISSN 1541-7177 Copyright 2005 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center P.O. Box 19024 Seattle, WA 98109-1024 www.fhcrc.org