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).
Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, of the University of Washington, discusses new data suggesting that in patients with relapsed large B-cell lymphoma who achieve a complete response, treatment with autologous transplantation may be associated with a lower relapse rate and improved progression-free survival compared with CAR T-cell therapy, including those with early treatment failure (Abstract 781).
Michael Wang, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses phase III results from the Sympatico study, which shows the combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax improved progression-free survival vs ibrutinib plus placebo in patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. According to Dr. Wang, these findings demonstrate a favorable benefit-risk profile for ibrutinib plus venetoclax in this patient population (Abstract LBA2).
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).
Jonathon B. Cohen, MD, of Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, discusses safety and efficacy findings from the phase I/II BRUIN study. The trial found that pirtobrutinib continues to demonstrate durable efficacy and a favorable safety profile in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (Abstract 981).
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).
