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Leukemia

Stopping TKI Treatment in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

In a report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Francois-Xavier Mahon, MD, PhD, and colleagues provided the final analysis of the European Stop Kinase Inhibitors (EURO-SKI) study. The trial evaluated the effect of stopping tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment in patients with chronic myeloid...

Leukemia

FLT3-ITD–Mutated AML: Gilteritinib in Posttransplantation Maintenance

In the phase III MORPHO trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Mark J. Levis, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that the FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib showed activity as post–allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) maintenance among patients with FLT3-ITD–mutated acute myeloid...

Leukemia

Venetoclax in Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Kater et al, the phase IIIb VENICE-1 trial has shown activity of venetoclax monotherapy in adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, including those with prior B-cell receptor–associated kinase (BCR) inhibitor treatment. Study...

Cardio-oncology
Leukemia

Strategies for Cardiovascular Risk Mitigation and Monitoring in Patients With CLL

With a 5-year overall survival of close to 90% in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), there have been large treatment shifts over the past decade in this disease, which now includes “more disciplines than it did before,” commented medical oncologist Danielle Shafer, DO, of Inova Schar Cancer...

Leukemia

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Ponatinib With Chemotherapy for Newly Diagnosed Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive ALL

On March 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the multitarget kinase inhibitor (Iclusig) with chemotherapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PhALLCON Efficacy was evaluated in...

Leukemia
Lymphoma
Immunotherapy

Accelerated Approval Granted to First CAR T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory CLL/SLL

On March 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi), a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small...

Leukemia

Zanubrutinib vs Acalabrutinib in Relapsed or Refractory CLL: New Efficacy Analysis

A new matching adjusted indirect comparison of the efficacy of zanubrutinib vs acalabrutinib in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) based on data from the phase III ALPINE and ASCEND trials was presented by Shadman et al at the 28th Annual International Congress on Hematologic ...

Leukemia

FDA Approves Inotuzumab Ozogamicin for Pediatric Patients With ALL

On March 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the CD22-targeted antibody-drug conjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa) for pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with relapsed or refractory CD22-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Study WI203581...

Leukemia

Novel CD123-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate in Relapsed or Refractory AML

In a phase I/II study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Naval Daver, MD, and colleagues found that  pivekimab sunirine (IMGN632), a novel CD123-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, showed activity in patients with CD123-positive relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Study Details...

Leukemia
Lymphoma
COVID-19

COVID-19 Risk in Pediatric Patients Receiving Treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Lymphoma

In a retrospective case series reported in JAMA Network Open, Hashmi et al found that more than one-third of pediatric patients receiving treatment for newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL/LL) developed COVID-19 infection during a recent 2-year period. Study...

Leukemia

All-Oral Regimen Feasible and Effective in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Study Finds

An all-oral regimen for newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was shown to be “highly effective and safe,” eliminating the need for chemotherapy altogether in many patients, Hong Kong researchers reported at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting &...

Leukemia

PEGasparaginase Dosing and Risk of Hypersensitivity Reactions in Pediatric ALL

In a Dutch study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, van der Sluis et al found that continuous dosing of PEGasparaginase was associated with a significantly reduced incidence of hypersensitivity reactions vs standard noncontinuous dosing in newly diagnosed pediatric patients with...

Leukemia

In NPM1-Mutated AML, Benefit of Transplant Limited to Patients With Residual Disease

In patients with NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the presence of molecular measurable residual disease (MRD) in the peripheral blood following induction chemotherapy can aid decision-making about postremission therapy. More specifically, MRD status in the peripheral blood can identify...

Leukemia

Crenolanib and Intensive Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed FLT3-Mutated AML

In a pilot study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Eunice S. Wang, MD, and colleagues found that the combination of crenolanib and intensive chemotherapy produced high response rates in adults with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Crenolanib is a...

Leukemia

All-Oral Regimen Feasible and Effective in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Study Finds

An all-oral regimen for newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was shown to be “highly effective and safe,” eliminating the need for chemotherapy altogether in many patients, Hong Kong researchers reported at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting &...

Leukemia

Azacitidine, Venetoclax, and Gilteritinib in Newly Diagnosed and Relapsed or Refractory FLT3-Mutated AML

In a single-center phase I/II study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nicholas J. Short, MD, and colleagues found that treatment with azacitidine, venetoclax, and gilteritinib produced a high response rate in newly diagnosed patients with FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML);...

Leukemia
Hematologic Malignancies
Issues in Oncology

BTK Degrader May Target Treatment Resistance in Patients With CLL

Researchers have identified a next-generation Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) degrader that could help patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and related hematologic malignancies overcome treatment resistance, according to a recent study published by Montoya et al in Science. The findings...

Leukemia

Intensified vs Standard Induction in Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed AML

In a UK trial (NCRI AML19) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Russell et al found that intensified induction therapy with FLAG-Ida (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony–stimulating factor, and idarubicin) plus gemtuzumab ozogamicin did not improve overall survival in younger...

Leukemia

Study Examines Real-World Outcomes With Ivosidenib vs Venetoclax in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

In a comparison of real-world outcomes for two common first-line regimens for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), treatment with the IDH1-targeted agent ivosidenib plus a hypomethylating agent was associated with better outcomes than venetoclax plus a...

Leukemia

Expert Point of View: Paul J. Hampel, MD

Paul J. Hampel, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, underscored the complexity of this arm of the adaptive FLAIR trial, which compared measurable residual disease (MRD)-directed ibrutinib plus venetoclax with standard, fixed-duration, FCR (fludarabine,...

Leukemia

Personalized Ibrutinib-Plus-Venetoclax Therapy: New Treatment Standard for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?

A time-limited approach based on measurable residual disease (MRD) response could signal a potential paradigm shift for front-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to data presented at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition1 and...

Leukemia

AUGMENT-101 Trial: Menin Inhibitor Revumenib Shows Activity in KMT2A-Rearranged Acute Leukemia

In heavily pretreated patients with a challenging type of acute leukemia, the menin inhibitor revumenib demonstrated clinically meaningful activity, including high rates of response and measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity, according to the efficacy and safety results of the phase II...

Hematologic Malignancies
Lymphoma
Leukemia

Novel CAR NK-Cell Therapy May Offer Benefit in Patients With B-Cell Malignancies

A novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK)-cell therapy may be effective at treating patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, according to a novel study published by Marin et al in Nature Medicine. Study Methods and Results In the new phase I/II trial, researchers...

leukemia

Ibrahim Aldoss, MD, on KMT2A-Rearranged Acute Leukemia: New Data on Revumenib Monotherapy

Ibrahim Aldoss, MD, of City of Hope National Medical Center, discusses phase II safety and efficacy results from the Augment-101 study. This trial showed that patients with heavily pretreated, relapsed or refractory KMT2-rearranged acute leukemia benefited from monotherapy with the menin-KMT2A inhibitor revumenib, with high overall response rates and undetectable measurable residual disease (Abstract LBA-5).

leukemia

Harinder Gill, MD, MBBS, on Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Assessing the Use of Oral Arsenic Trioxide, Retinoic Acid, and Ascorbic Acid

Harinder Gill, MD, MBBS, of The University of Hong Kong, discusses findings showing the use of an “AAA” regimen (pure oral arsenic trioxide combined with all-trans retinoic acid) in a risk-adapted strategy that minimized chemotherapy was highly effective and safe in patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia of all risk categories and age groups. However, he cautions, early deaths remain an obstacle to realizing a cure for all with this disease (Abstract 157).

leukemia

Jeffrey E. Rubnitz, MD, PhD, on Pediatric AML Outcomes and Racial Disparities

Jeffrey E. Rubnitz, MD, PhD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, discusses study findings suggesting that pharmacogenomic differences between Black and White patients should be considered when tailoring induction regimens to improve outcomes of all patients and bridge the racial disparity gap in acute myeloid leukemia treatment (Abstract 386).

Leukemia

ALL in Adults: Trial Updates and Clinical Considerations for Selecting Consolidation Therapy

Although pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have seen a dramatic improvement in long-term survival rates over the past 40 years, from approximately 10% to over 95%, adults aged 29 and older have not experienced the same treatment benefits, with survival rates still below...

leukemia
lymphoma
immunotherapy

Adam S. Kittai, MD, on Richter’s Transformation: Anti-CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy

Adam S. Kittai, MD, of The Ohio State University, discusses his data supporting the use of CAR T-cell therapy for patients with Richter’s transformation. Given the high response rate to CD19 CAR T-cell treatment, along with early relapse in most patients, allogeneic stem cell transplantation at response should also be considered, he says (Abstract 108).

Leukemia

Long-Term Results With Front-Line Dasatinib/Blinatumomab for Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive ALL

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Foà et al, long-term results of the Italian D-ALBA study have shown that a chemotherapy-free induction/consolidation regimen of dasatinib followed by blinatumomab maintained highly favorable outcomes in the front-line treatment of adult patients...

leukemia
lymphoma

Jennifer A. Woyach, MD, on CLL/SLL: 30-Month Follow-up and Subgroup Analysis of Pirtobrutinib

Jennifer A. Woyach, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses phase I/II findings of the BRUIN study on the use of pirtobrutinib after covalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). The results suggest that continuing BTK pathway inhibition following a covalent BTK inhibitor may be an important sequencing approach to consider in the treatment of CLL/SLL (Abstract 325).

Leukemia

MRD-Guided Ibrutinib/Venetoclax for Previously Untreated Patients With CLL

As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Talha Munir, MBBS, and colleagues, an analysis from the UK phase III FLAIR trial showed improved progression-free survival with measurable residual disease (MRD)-guided ibrutinib/venetoclax vs fludarabine/cyclophosphamide/rituximab (FCR) in...

leukemia
lymphoma

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, on Use of Pirtobrutinib for Richter Transformation: Updated Efficacy and Safety Results

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses results from the phase I/II BRUIN study, which shows encouraging response and overall survival in patients with Richter transformation. Although this condition remains a challenging diagnosis, pirtobrutinib represents a potential treatment option that warrants further investigation, according to Dr. Wierda (Abstract 1737).

hematologic malignancies
leukemia
lymphoma
myelodysplastic syndromes

Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, on Therapies for Hematologic Cancers: Is More or Less Better?

Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, reviews key abstracts from ASH 2023 on treatment of myelofibrosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, large B-cell lymphoma, and acute myeloid leukemia (Abstracts 620, 631, 781, 425).

Leukemia

Combination Treatment That Skips Chemotherapy May Be Effective for Older Patients With Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive ALL

Older patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were not candidates for the standard treatment of intensive chemotherapy had a median overall survival of 6.5 years on an alternative regimen of dasatinib and blinatumomab, according to long-term results...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Modern AML Care After the Approval of Venetoclax

Use of venetoclax may increase survival in non-Hispanic Black patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to recent findings presented by Wang et al at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition (Abstract 955). Background Although the standard treatment...

Leukemia

Revumenib in High-Risk KMT2A-Rearranged Acute Leukemia

Patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia with rearrangement in the lysine methyltransferase 2A gene, a genetic marker known as KMT2A, who were treated with revumenib, a small-molecule inhibitor of menin-KMT2A interactions, saw an overall response rate of 63%, according to results from...

Leukemia
Genomics/Genetics

Menin Inhibitors in Patients With Advanced AML and Gene Mutations

Two new studies have demonstrated positive results from novel therapies targeting menin for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with specific gene mutations, according to findings presented by Jabbour et al (Abstract 57) and Issa et al (Abstract 58) at ...

Leukemia

Presence of MRD After Chemotherapy May Predict Benefit From Donor Transplant in NPM1-Mutated AML

Among patients who have acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with genetic mutations in NPM1, those with no residual leukemia cells in the blood based on high-sensitivity testing after two cycles of chemotherapy achieved high rates of overall survival at 3 years and saw no additional survival benefit from...

Leukemia

Oral Regimen With Minimal Chemotherapy Found to Be Safe, Effective for Patients With APL

Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who received a combination therapy including arsenic trioxide, all-trans retinoic acid, and ascorbic acid (AAA) in oral form with no or minimal chemotherapy showed high rates of survival and relapse-free survival at 3 years, according to new findings ...

Leukemia

Ibrutinib Plus Venetoclax—With Duration of Treatment Determined by MRD—in Newly Diagnosed CLL

Among patients newly diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were treated with two targeted agents and whose duration of treatment was determined by high-sensitivity testing for residual cancer cells in the blood, 97.2% were free of cancer progression and 2% had died at 3 years. By...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders May Be Linked to Poorer Outcomes in AML Following Venetoclax Combination Therapies

Researchers have found that patients with psychiatric or substance use disorders may have an increased risk of experiencing poorer outcomes such as early mortality following treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with venetoclax combination therapies compared with those without a recent history ...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

ACS10 Score May Help Inform Treatment, Reduce Racial Disparities in Black Pediatric Patients With AML

Researchers may have uncovered a close link between genetic factors and racial disparities in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to new findings presented by Lamba et al at the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition (Abstract 386)....

Lymphoma
Leukemia

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Pirtobrutinib for CLL/SLL

On December 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) for adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) who have received at least two prior lines of therapy, including a Bruton’s tyrosine...

Leukemia

Inotuzumab Ozogamicin–Based Induction in Older Patients With Philadelphia Chromosome–Negative B-Cell–Precursor ALL

In a German phase II trial (INITIAL-1) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Matthias Stelljes, MD, and colleagues found that inotuzumab ozogamicin–based induction therapy followed by age-adapted chemotherapy was associated with promising outcomes in newly diagnosed patients older than age...

Leukemia

Bosutinib in Pediatric Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

On September 26, 2023, bosutinib (Bosulif) was approved for pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with chronic-phase Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that is newly diagnosed or resistant or intolerant to prior therapy.1 New capsule dosage form strengths of 50 mg...

Leukemia

Optimizing Treatment Selection for Newly Diagnosed and Secondary AML: Focus on Cytogenetic and Molecular Data

Greater understanding of biological disease factors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has led to more effective and personalized treatment options. At the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies,1 Rebecca Olin, MD, MSCE, of UCSF Helen Diller Family...

Leukemia

Blinatumomab as an Alternative to First-Line Intensive Chemotherapy in Pediatric B-Cell ALL

In a retrospective study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hodder et al found that blinatumomab was effective as a toxicity-sparing alternative to first-line intensive chemotherapy in children and young persons with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were...

Leukemia

Ibrutinib/Venetoclax vs Chlorambucil/Obinutuzumab in Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: GLOW Trial 4-Year Follow-up

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Niemann et al, the 4-year follow-up of the phase III GLOW trial has shown a continued progression-free survival benefit with fixed-duration ibrutinib/venetoclax vs chlorambucil/obinutuzumab in the first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in patients ...

Leukemia
Genomics/Genetics

Novel Assay May Help Detect and Treat Patients With AML

A novel assay may be effective at detecting a unique molecular marker in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to a recent study published by Young et al in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. The new findings may revolutionize the way AML is detected and treated. Background AML...

Leukemia
Lymphoma
Hematologic Malignancies

Nemtabrutinib May Provide Benefit in Patients With Relapsed Hematologic Malignancies

The BTK inhibitor nemtabrutinib may offer a new treatment option for patients with relapsed hematologic malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a recent study published by Woyach et al in Cancer Discovery. Background Hematologic malignancies are...

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