Hematologic Oncology

Natural killer cells can offer several advantages over T cells for CAR therapy in that the former uses both a CAR dependent and independent mechanism for tumor eradication, has better safety, and off-the-shelf feasibility—all at a potentially lower cost.

High-dose chemotherapy and transplant remains the second-line standard of care for the majority of patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; however, CAR T-cell therapy and other novel agents, which have transformed the third-line setting, may offer alternative and more personalized second-line options in the coming years.

Rituximab plus CHOP is not a suitable frontline treatment regimen for all patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, explained Andre H. Goy, MD, who specified that patients with a high-risk International Prognostic Index, elderly patients, and patients with high-risk molecular subtypes require alternative treatment.

Kerry A, Rogers, MD, discusses the rationale behind the phase 1b study of VAY736 combined with ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the next steps for this research.

Mark Walters, MD, discusses the safety profile of betibeglogene autotemcel gene therapy in pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, as reported in the phase 3 Northstar-2 and Northstar-3 trials.

Jorge E. Cortes, MD, discusses future directions in the research of CPX-351 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, provides an overview of the similarities and differences between myeloproliferative neoplasms, including polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocythemia.

Experts provide insight on therapeutic approaches of myeloproliferative neoplasms, highlighting clinical trial data and disease characteristics of polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocythemia.

CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapies have yielded durable remissions in approximately half of all patients with aggressive relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomas.

Treatment with chimeric antigen receptor T cells has induced unprecedented overall response rates and complete response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies.

Since the publication of the pivotal ELIANA trial in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the field of CAR T-cell therapy has grown significantly and left providers better equipped to understand and manage treatment-related adverse effects, such as cytokine release syndrome.

Andrew Ip, MD, MS, discusses the challenges of treating patients with hematologic malignancies and COVID-19.

Total body irradiation plus etoposide prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation resulted in improved overall survival and a lower risk of relapse in pediatric patients with high-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia compared with chemotherapy conditioning.

Timothy M. Schmidt, MD, discusses the integration and utility of bispecific antibodies in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, as well as some of the most promising agents in clinical development.

Paul G. Richardson, MD, reviews early data presented at ASH 2020 on the use of CELMoDs as well as melflufen for the management of RRMM. 

Saad Z. Usmani, MD, leads the discussion on new and updated data for novel PI-based combinations in RRMM as seen in the CANDOR, IKEMA, and BOSTON trials.

Fixed-duration treatment that leads to deep treatment-free remissions has become the prioritized strategy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, made possible by agents such as venetoclax, umbralisib, and lisocabtagene maraleucel.

Natalie S. Callander, MD, discusses the intriguing approaches in both the frontline and relapsed/refractory settings, including trials with antibody-drug conjugates.

Dr Brown and Dr Stilgenbauer provide their input on novel treatment options emerging for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Dr Ghia discusses emerging treatment strategies, including some promising clinical trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Experts provide an in-depth look at their approach in sequencing treatment in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.