Ruth Spearing | |
|---|---|
 Spearing in 2023 | |
| Awards | Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Otago |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Christchurch Hospital , Canterbury District Health Board |
Ruth Lilian Spearing CNZM is a New Zealand haematologist,and researches blood cancer. In 2023 Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology.
Spearing attended the University of Otago. [1] She has worked as a consultant haematologist at Christchurch Hospital since 1989,and is the clinical director of haematology at Canterbury District Health Board. [2] From 2003 until 2017 Spearing served as Chair of the Canterbury Hospitals’Medical Staff Association. [2] Spearing was also Canterbury Clinical Lead for the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service. [2] Spearing was also a board member of the New Zealand Medical Association,and a trustee of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Advocates New Zealand. [3] [4]
Spearing led the New Zealand involvement in international collaborative trials with the UK's Medical Research Council and the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. [2] These trials have investigated treatments for a range of blood cancers including myeloma,chronic lymphocytic leukaemia,acute lymphocytic and myeloid leukaemia,and have resulted in increased survival rates from 13% for acute myeloid leukaemia in the 1980s to 65 per cent. [2]
In 2008 Spearing established the Ruth Spearing Cancer Research Trust,to support haematology research in the South Island. [2]
In 2024 Spearing led calls for Pharmac chief executive Sarah Fitt to step down after an Official Information Act request revealed internal communications showing disdain for patients and their advocates. [5] Spearing has been critical of Pharmac's approach to funding new drugs,especially drugs for blood cancers,pointing out that New Zealand funds far fewer blood cancer drugs than other countries. [6] [7]
In the 2023 King's Birthday and Coronation Honours Spearing was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to haematology. [2] [8] Spearing is a Life Member of ALLG,the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group. [8]
Leukemia is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called blasts or leukemia cells. Symptoms may include bleeding and bruising, bone pain, fatigue, fever, and an increased risk of infections. These symptoms occur due to a lack of normal blood cells. Diagnosis is typically made by blood tests or bone marrow biopsy.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes. Early on, there are typically no symptoms. Later, non-painful lymph node swelling, feeling tired, fever, night sweats, or weight loss for no clear reason may occur. Enlargement of the spleen and low red blood cells (anemia) may also occur. It typically worsens gradually over years.
Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is the transplantation of multipotent hematopoietic stem cells, usually derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood, in order to replicate inside a patient and produce additional normal blood cells. HSCT may be autologous, syngeneic, or allogeneic.
Tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues or tumours of the haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues are tumors that affect the blood, bone marrow, lymph, and lymphatic system. Because these tissues are all intimately connected through both the circulatory system and the immune system, a disease affecting one will often affect the others as well, making aplasia, myeloproliferation and lymphoproliferation closely related and often overlapping problems. While uncommon in solid tumors, chromosomal translocations are a common cause of these diseases. This commonly leads to a different approach in diagnosis and treatment of hematological malignancies. Hematological malignancies are malignant neoplasms ("cancer"), and they are generally treated by specialists in hematology and/or oncology. In some centers "hematology/oncology" is a single subspecialty of internal medicine while in others they are considered separate divisions. Not all hematological disorders are malignant ("cancerous"); these other blood conditions may also be managed by a hematologist.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a cancer of the lymphoid line of blood cells characterized by the development of large numbers of immature lymphocytes. Symptoms may include feeling tired, pale skin color, fever, easy bleeding or bruising, enlarged lymph nodes, or bone pain. As an acute leukemia, ALL progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated.
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma is a rare cancer of the immune system's T-cells caused by human T cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). All ATL cells contain integrated HTLV-1 provirus further supporting that causal role of the virus in the cause of the neoplasm. A small amount of HTLV-1 individuals progress to develop ATL with a long latency period between infection and ATL development. ATL is categorized into 4 subtypes: acute, smoldering, lymphoma-type, chronic. Acute and Lymphoma-type are known to particularly be aggressive with poorer prognosis.
Acute leukemia or acute leukaemia is a family of serious medical conditions relating to an original diagnosis of leukemia. In most cases, these can be classified according to the lineage, myeloid or lymphoid, of the malignant cells that grow uncontrolled, but some are mixed and for those such an assignment is not possible.
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of rare blood cancers in which excess red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets are produced in the bone marrow. Myelo refers to the bone marrow, proliferative describes the rapid growth of blood cells and neoplasm describes that growth as abnormal and uncontrolled.
Bortezomib, sold under the brand name Velcade among others, is an anti-cancer medication used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. This includes multiple myeloma in those who have and have not previously received treatment. It is generally used together with other medications. It is given by injection.
Fludarabine is a purine analogue and antineoplastic agent. It is generally used as its 5-O-phosphorylated form known as fludarabine phosphate, sold under the brand name Fludara among others. It is a chemotherapy medication used in the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. These include chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and acute lymphocytic leukemia. It is given by injection into a vein or by mouth.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood and interfere with normal blood cell production. Symptoms may include feeling tired, shortness of breath, easy bruising and bleeding, and increased risk of infection. Occasionally, spread may occur to the brain, skin, or gums. As an acute leukemia, AML progresses rapidly, and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated.
Blood Cancer UK, is a UK-based charity dedicated to funding research into all blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, as well as offering information and support to blood cancer patients.
Cluster of differentiation antigen 135 (CD135) also known as fms like tyrosine kinase 3, receptor-type tyrosine-protein kinase FLT3, or fetal liver kinase-2 (Flk2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FLT3 gene. FLT3 is a cytokine receptor which belongs to the receptor tyrosine kinase class III. CD135 is the receptor for the cytokine Flt3 ligand (FLT3L).
Daratumumab, sold under the brand name Darzalex among others, is an anti-cancer monoclonal antibody medication. It binds to CD38, which is overexpressed in multiple myeloma cells. Daratumumab was originally developed by Genmab, but it is now being jointly developed by Genmab along with the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen Biotech, which acquired worldwide commercialization rights to the drug from Genmab.
John M. Goldman was a British haematologist, oncologist and medical researcher. A specialist in chronic myeloid leukaemia, Goldman conducted pioneering research into leukaemia treatment – he was instrumental in the development of bone marrow transplantation as a clinical method, and later in the development of the drug imatinib. He was also a prolific author of scientific papers, was involved with numerous medical charities and had a decades-long surgical career at Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Bisantrene is an anthracenyl bishydrazone with anthracycline-like antineoplastic activity and an antimetabolite. Bisantrene intercalates with and disrupts the configuration of DNA, resulting in DNA single-strand breaks, DNA-protein crosslinking, and inhibition of DNA replication. This agent is similar to doxorubicin in chemotherapeutic activity, but unlike anthracyclines like doxorubicin, it exhibits little cardiotoxicity.
The LL-100 panel is a group of 100 human leukemia and lymphoma cell line, can be used in model of biomedical research.
Freda Kathryn Stevenson is a British immunologist and Professor at the University of Southampton. She was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2000, and was the first British researcher to be awarded the American Society of Hematology Henry M. Stratton Medal.
Kathryn Elizabeth Crosier (née Barber) is a New Zealand academic, a clinical haematologist, and is an emeritus professor at the University of Auckland, specialising in molecular medicine. In 2005, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medicine.
Jane Elizabeth Skeen is a New Zealand paediatric oncologist who worked at Starship Blood and Cancer Centre at Starship Children’s Hospital in Auckland. In 2023, Skeen was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children with cancer. She is an honorary life member of the Child Cancer Foundation, and a life member of the Australia and New Zealand Children's Haematology and Oncology Group.