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Leukemia

FDA Approves Novel T-Cell Immunotherapy for Adults With Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy obecabtagene autoleucel (Aucatzyl) for adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Efficacy and Safety Efficacy was evaluated in...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Researchers May Have Uncovered Why Some AML Cells Resist Treatment

Researchers have provided new insights into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its resistance to venetoclax, according to a recent study published by Sango et al in Nature. Although AML is a rare disease, approximately 20,800 U.S. patients will be diagnosed in 2024, according to the American Cancer...

Leukemia

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin With Low-Intensity Chemotherapy in Older Patients With CD22-Positive Philadelphia Chromosome–Negative B-Cell Precursor ALL

In a phase II trial (EWALL-INO) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Chevallier et al found that inotuzumab ozogamicin combined with low-dose chemotherapy was active in the first-line treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed CD22-positive Philadelphia chromosome–negative B-cell...

Leukemia

Outcomes With Brexucabtagene Autoleucel as Standard Therapy for Adults With Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

In an analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Roloff et al found that use of brexucabtagene autoleucel as standard therapy in adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) was associated with a high rate of measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative...

Leukemia

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Asciminib for Newly Diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to the BCR::ABL1 kinase inhibitor asciminib (Scemblix) for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph-positive CML) in chronic phase. The FDA approval was granted on...

Leukemia

New Directions in ALL, CML, and CLL Treatment

The Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) 2024 Annual Meeting showcased several groundbreaking studies in the field of hematologic oncology, including key findings in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The ASCO...

Leukemia
Immunotherapy

Novel Cell Therapy May Offer Benefit in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory T-Cell ALL

A novel cell therapy targeting CD7 on leukemia cells may provide an effective treatment option for patients with refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to a recent study published by Oh et al in Nature Medicine. The findings highlighted the effectiveness of a new chimeric...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Novel Triplet Combination May Yield Positive Response in Patients With Advanced-Phase CML

Researchers have found that 80% of patients with previously treated or relapsed/refractory advanced-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)—including both accelerated or myeloid blast phases of the disease—or Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may have achieved a bone marrow ...

Leukemia
Genomics/Genetics

Genomic Determinants of Relapse in Childhood ALL

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Chang et al identified potential genomic determinants of relapse risk in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). As stated by the investigators, “Although cure rates for childhood ALL exceed 90%, ALL remains a leading cause of cancer...

Leukemia

Cancer Has Robbed Me of My Fertility and My Olympic Dreams

I was a track and field athlete throughout college, and my goal was to try out for the Olympics, but cancer had other plans for me. In 2010, while in my senior year in college, I began having sharp, shooting pains in my shoulders, which I initially attributed to overzealous training. But the pain...

Leukemia

Ponatinib With Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive ALL

On March 19, 2024, ponatinib (Iclusig) was granted accelerated approval for use with chemotherapy in adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).1 Ponatinib is a multitargeted kinase inhibitor. Supporting Efficacy Data and How It Is Used Approval ...

Leukemia

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

On March 6, 2024, the anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa), which is bound to a toxic natural calicheamicin, was approved for pediatric patients aged 1 year or older with relapsed or refractory CD22-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.1 Supporting...

Leukemia

Menin Inhibitor in KMT2A-Rearranged Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia

In a phase I/II study (AUGMENT-101) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Issa et al found that revumenib, an oral small-molecule inhibitor of the menin-lysine methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A) interaction, was active in patients with KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A) relapsed or refractory acute...

Leukemia

What Is the Optimal First-Line Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?

Is the optimal first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) monotherapy with a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor or some combination regimen? This clinical question was explored by two speakers at the 2024 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference, sponsored by the University of...

Leukemia
Genomics/Genetics

Novel Insights May Transform Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Patients With T-Lineage ALL

Researchers have uncovered that T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may be frequently driven by genetic changes in noncoding portions of the DNA, according to a recent study published by Pölönen et al in Nature. The investigators believe these findings may lead to a paradigm shift in...

Leukemia

Discontinuation of CML Therapy: Which Patients Are Ideal Candidates?

With the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has become a chronic disease for most patients. Furthermore, we now know that some patients can successfully stop treatment and remain in remission. “Stopping tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy is something we get a...

Gynecologic Cancers
Leukemia
Survivorship

Births and Adverse Obstetric Outcomes Among Female Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers

In a population-based retrospective cohort study (Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Study; TYACSS) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Sunguc et al identified risks of adverse obstetric outcomes among female survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers in England and Wales. Study Details The...

Leukemia

Ponatinib and Blinatumomab in Newly Diagnosed Ph-Positive ALL

In an updated analysis of a single-center phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hagop Kantarjian, MD, and colleagues found that the simultaneous combination of ponatinib and blinatumomab continued to be associated with good outcomes in newly diagnosed patients with...

Leukemia

MRD-Negative ALL: Addition of Blinatumomab to Consolidation Chemotherapy

In the phase III ECOG-ACRIN E1910 trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Mark R. Litzow, MD, and colleagues found that the addition of blinatumomab to consolidation chemotherapy improved overall survival among adult patients with BCR-ABL fusion–negative B-cell precursor acute...

Issues in Oncology
Hematologic Malignancies
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Bladder Cancer

Cancer Risk From Exposure to Pesticides May Be Comparable to Risk From Smoking, Study Finds

Agricultural pesticides may carry a similar risk as smoking for some types of cancers, according to a recent study published by Gerken et al in Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society.   Background In modern agriculture practices, pesticides are essential to ensure high enough crop yields and food...

Leukemia

Novel Target Identified for Treating HTLV-1–Associated Diseases

Blocking the tyrosine kinase KDR could lead to cell death caused by the degradation of the TAX viral protein, thereby treating diseases associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), according to a recent study published by Mohanty et al in Nature Communications. Background HTLV-1 is...

Leukemia

Having Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Took Away My Fear of Death

On May 30, 2017, 9 days before I turned 19 and soon after I had completed my sophomore year at college, I was diagnosed with aggressive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. But getting to the diagnosis was a tortuous process. I had been feeling fatigued and losing weight for several weeks prior to the...

Gynecologic Cancers
Leukemia
Survivorship

Risk of Adverse Obstetric Outcomes in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

In an English and Welsh study (The Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Study) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Sunguc et al found that cervical cancer and leukemia survivors have a heightened risk of experiencing several serious obstetric complications. “Therefore, any pregnancy [in these...

Leukemia
Lymphoma
Issues in Oncology

Immunoglobulin G Testing May Reduce Infections, Increase Receipt of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Patients With CLL and NHL

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who undergo frequent immunoglobulin G testing may be less likely to experience severe infections than those who don’t undergo frequent testing, according to a recent study published by Soumerai et al in Blood Advances....

Leukemia

FDA Approves Blinatumomab as Consolidation for CD19-Positive, Ph-Negative B-Cell Precursor ALL

On June 14, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) for adult and pediatric patients aged 1 month and older with CD19-positive, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the consolidation phase of...

Leukemia

Relapsed or Refractory JMML: Study Evaluates Trametinib

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy affecting young children predominately under the age of 4. The disease is caused by mutations that increase RAS signaling output. While about 50% of patients with JMML are cured after undergoing hematopoietic...

Leukemia

First-Line Venetoclax Combinations in Fit Patients With CLL

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Fürstenau et al, 4-year follow-up of the phase III GAIA/CLL13 trial showed improved progression-free survival with venetoclax/obinutuzumab and venetoclax/obinutuzumab/ibrutinib vs both chemoimmunotherapy and venetoclax/rituximab in the first-line treatment of...

leukemia
lymphoma

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, on CLL/SLL: Updated Findings on Ibrutinib and Venetoclax

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses up to 5.5 years of follow-up data from the phase II CAPTIVATE study, showing that in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), fixed duration ibrutinib plus venetoclax continues to provide clinically meaningful progression-free disease in those with high-risk genomic features as well as in the overall population (Abstract 7009).

leukemia
immunotherapy

Allison M. Winter, MD, on Richter Transformation: New Data on a CAR T-Cell Treatment

Allison M. Winter, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, discusses real-world outcomes with lisocabtagene maraleucel in patients with Richter transformation, a difficult-to-treat population with a poor prognosis. Data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research showed this therapy provided clinical benefit with a high complete response rate (Abstract 7010).

leukemia

Yucai Wang, MD, PhD, on Richter Transformation of CLL: Findings on Combination Therapy With an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor

Yucai Wang, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic, discusses the increased efficacy of combination therapy with pembrolizumab plus a BCR kinase inhibitor compared with pembrolizumab alone in patients with Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; Abstract 7050).

leukemia

Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Recruiting for the CELESTIAL-TNCLL Study

Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, discusses an ongoing phase III study of the BCL2 inhibitor sonrotoclax plus zanubrutinib vs venetoclax and obinutuzumab for patients with treatment-naive chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The investigators are recruiting internationally (see NCT06073821; Abstract TPS7087).

leukemia

Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Update on BTK Inhibitors

Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, discusses a network meta-analysis showing that zanubrutinib appears to be the most efficacious Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor for patients with high-risk relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It offers delayed disease progression and favorable survival and response, compared with alternative BTK inhibitors (Abstract 7048).  

Leukemia

Shorter Durations of Venetoclax Yield Similar Response Rates Compared to Standard Course in AML

When combined with azacitidine, a 7-day course of venetoclax demonstrated similar remission rates and was more tolerable compared to the standard 28-day course for older or chemotherapy-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These results from a retrospective...

Leukemia
Immunotherapy

Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell ALL: Novel CAR T-Cell Therapy Yields Strong Remission Rates

The novel anti-CD19 autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy obecabtagene autoleucel achieved durable remissions in 40% of patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) without a subsequent stem cell transplant, according to results from the phase...

leukemia
lymphoma

Muhit Özcan, MD, on CLL/SLL: Report on a Still-Recruiting International Study of Nemtabrutinib, Venetoclax, and Rituximab

Muhit Özcan, MD, of Turkey’s Ankara University School of Medicine, discusses the ongoing phase III BELLWAVE-010 study of nemtabrutinib plus venetoclax vs venetoclax plus rituximab in previously treated patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) (Abstract TPS7089).  

Leukemia

Asciminib Shows Superior Efficacy vs Standard-of-Care Front-Line TKIs in CML

Over the past 2 decades, the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the ATP-binding site of the constitutively activated tyrosine kinase in the fusion BCR::ABL1 protein has resulted in markedly improved treatment outcomes among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)....

Leukemia
Supportive Care

Can Exercise Boost the Efficacy of Rituximab in Treatment of CLL?

Sessions of moderate-to-vigorous exercise may improve the efficacy of antibody therapies, such as rituximab, used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to a recent study published by Collier-Bain et al in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. The findings may demonstrate the potential of...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Half-Matched Family Donors May Improve ASCT Outcomes in Hispanic Patients With ALL

Researchers have found that allogeneic stem cell transplantation from a haploidentical relative may significantly increase the rate of success in Hispanic patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to a recent study published by Ashouri et al in Leukemia Research. Background In...

Hematologic Malignancies
Lymphoma
Leukemia
Global Cancer Care

Lymphoid Neoplasms: European National Health Expenditure and Long-Term Survival

In an analysis of the EUROCARE-6 data set reported in The Lancet Oncology, Milena Sant, MD, and colleagues found that patients with lymphoid neoplasms from European countries with greater health expenditure had improved 10-year age-standardized relative survival. Study Details The study involved...

Leukemia
Geriatric Oncology
Issues in Oncology

Venetoclax Plus Hypomethylating Agents: Analyzing Standard-of-Care Outcomes in Older Patients With AML

Standard-of-care treatment comprising venetoclax plus hypomethylating agents was found to be safe and effective in some patients aged 80 years and older with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to a recent study published by Madarang et al in Blood Neoplasia. Background Older adult patients...

Lymphoma
Leukemia

Pirtobrutinib in Patients With Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

On December 1, 2023, pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca), a selective, noncovalent  Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that inhibits both wild-type and C481-mutant BTK with equal low nanomolar potency and is designed to address several of the limitations of covalent BTK inhibitors, was granted...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Improving AML Outcomes: Testing for MRD Prior to Bone Marrow Transplant

Testing for measurable residual disease (MRD) prior to bone marrow transplant may be effective and practical in patients in remission after receiving treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to a recent study published by Dillon et al in JAMA Oncology. Study Methods and Results In the...

Leukemia
Lymphoma
Immunotherapy

Relapsed or Refractory CD7-Positive Leukemia or Lymphoma: CAR T-Cell Therapy Plus HSCT Without GVHD Prophylaxis

In a Chinese study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Hu et al found that sequential CD7 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) without graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was effective in patients with...

Leukemia

Pediatric AML: Comparison of Induction Regimens

In the phase III AML2012 trial, which had early termination of enrollment and results of which were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Tierens et al found that mitoxantrone-based induction resulted in better outcomes vs liposomal daunorubicin–based induction in pediatric patients with...

Leukemia
Survivorship

Impact of Propofol Exposure on Neurocognitive Outcomes in Children With High-Risk ALL

In an analysis from the Children’s Oncology Group phase III AALL1131 study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Alexander et al found that exposure to propofol was associated with an increased risk of impairment in reaction time/processing speed at 1 year after treatment in children with...

Leukemia
Immunotherapy

Anti-CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy for Richter Transformation

In a retrospective study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Kittai et al found that anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy showed activity in previously treated patients with Richter transformation. Study Details In the study, 69 patients who received CAR T-cell therapy ...

Leukemia

Feasibility of Ending Specialist Follow-up in Patients With Low-Risk CLL

A study published by Brieghel et al in Blood Advances showed that among patients in Denmark who had slow-growing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with no symptoms and a low risk for ever needing treatment, those who stopped seeing their doctors for specialized follow-up had fewer hospital visits, ...

Leukemia
Geriatric Oncology

Older Patients With AML: Does Stem Cell Transplant Improve Long-Term Outcomes?

Nearly 21,000 new cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are diagnosed each year in the United States, about 80% of which occur in individuals aged 60 years and older. The cancer has the highest mortality rate among the different types of leukemia, and, in 2024, it is predicted that about 11,220...

Leukemia

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin for Relapsed or Refractory Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

On March 6, 2024, inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa) was approved for pediatric patients aged 1 year or older with relapsed or refractory CD22-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.1 Supporting Efficacy Data Approval was based on findings in the ITCC-059 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov...

Leukemia
Genomics/Genetics

IKZF1 Genetic Variant May Contribute to Disparities in Risk of ALL in Pediatric Hispanic and Latino Patients

A genetic variant located on the IKZF1 gene may be responsible for disparities in the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among Hispanic and Latino children, according to a recent study published by de Smith et al in Cell Genomics. The findings offer insights into the causes of the disease...

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