Results of a study at St. Jude show why imatinib (Gleevec) is unable to prevent the relapse of an aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Imatinib has improved the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) dramatically.

CML and an aggressive form of ALL share the same mutation, the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). Ph-postiive cells produce a growth-promoting enzyme BCR-ABL. However, in some aggressive cases of ALL, Ph-positive cells lack a tumor suppressor gene called Arf, which is present in CML cells, say the researchers.

The paper's first author, Richard T. Williams, says that doctors might be able to identify those people with ALL who lack Arf.

Glamour editor and leukemia cancer survivor Erin Zammett Ruddy blogs Life with Cancer and is the author of My (So-Called) Normal Life. Five years ago, at the age of 23, Erin was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Immediately after her cancer diagnosis, Erin began chronicling her life with cancer in a monthly Life with Cancer column for Glamour magazine. Recently, she has launched a blog after the same name as her column.

"I am excited to be starting my blog for Glamour. I am going to be talking about whatever it is I am feeling about that particular day.

I hope to hear from readers that instead of being a patient or a victim -- it's something like I have this disease, what can I do with it -- how can I help other people.

Do I wish I didn't have cancer? Yes, but I wouldn't trade my life right now for anything and that life includes cancer."

While Erin is new to blogging, she is not new to writing, and she is an excellent writer. Frank, serious, open, vulnerable, and bouyant with a delightful sense of humor, her writing makes for a blog that is difficult to leave until you have read every post. Erin takes Gleevac, and in order to have a baby she will need to stop taking the drug that keeps her in cancer remission. She is very honest in sharing the anxiety and anticipation of making this choice.

From the blog, you can access the monthly column Erin writes for Glamour magazine. One of the most recent features an interview with MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge: Fresh Meat Diem Brown, a 25-year-old woman currently battling ovarian cancer. After hearing about Diem, and watching her on the reality show, Erin was intrigued to meet her. As a result of the time the two spent together, and sharing stories with Diem, Erin was inspired to stay positive in the midst of uncertainty.

Erin Zammett Ruddy is a phenomenal woman with a terrific attitude, and a blog we are glad she keeps.

In 1998, Barenaked Ladies keyboardist and guitarist Kevin Hearn started to have pains and experienced rapid weight loss. At the time, the band was working on their next studio album Stunt. As soon as it was finished, Hearn went in for a medical checkup and was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. While Hearn underwent a bone marrow transplant, the band was forced to go on without him on tour to promote the new album. Cancer treatments and transplant required that Hearn spend time in an isolation room. During that time, he began writing what became the album H-Wing, named after the hospital wing, H-Wing of the Princess Margaret Hospital, where he spent so much of his time fighting cancer. Reviewers describe this album as, "a testament to the strength of the human spirit, transcending desperate situations, and dealing with one's mortality. The songs are filled with hope, fear, love, confusion, gratitude, sadness, and perhaps most importantly, a sense of humor."

Today, Hearn is cancer-free and back with Barenaked Ladies. Hearn has moved on but has not forgotten the cancer research and cancer community that made it possible for his life today. He is the honorary spokesperson for the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. Hearn and Barenaked Ladies band members play charity shows and participate in cancer fundraisers. In addition to touring and recording music with both Barenaked Ladies, and his solo band from H-Wing, Thin Buckle, he has been composing music for Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, a children's television show. In the heart of a cancer survivor is profound gratitude -- for all the little discoveries that were made, and for all the people who worked diligently to make them -- that led to the better treatments, that allowed for another day of life. Giving back is a given.