Dory Abelman, PhD(c), HBHSc, on Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Ultradeep Whole-Genome Sequencing of cfDNA
ASH 2025
Dory Abelman, PhD(c), HBHSc, of the University of Toronto, discusses findings that support the feasibility of ultradeep cell-free DNA whole-genome sequencing for comprehensive genomic profiling in patients with multiple myeloma, which may be a less invasive alternative to bone marrow biopsy (Abstract 495).
The ASCO Post Staff
Aaron Logan, MD, PhD, of UCSF Health, discusses research examining the effect of transplant before or after treatment with brexucabtagene autoleucel in the real world for adult patients with relapsed or refractory Philadelphia chromosome–negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (Abstract 516).
The ASCO Post Staff
Amer Zeidan, MBBS, of Yale School of Medicine, shares results from the phase I/II BEXMAB study, which examined the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of bexmarilimab—a novel macrophage checkpoint inhibitor targeting Clever-1—in combination with the standard of care, azacitidine, in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including those with TP53-mutated disease. (Abstract 236).
The ASCO Post Staff
The telomerase inhibitor imetelstat was approved for the treatment of certain patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) based on the results of the phase III IMerge trial. Valeria Santini, MD, of the University of Florence, provides updates on secondary endpoints, including overall and progression-free survival; progression to acute myeloid leukemia; safety; and long-term outcomes by subgroups of interest in IMerge, as well as ad hoc outcomes, including overall survival by response (Abstract 2074).
The ASCO Post Staff
Karthik Ramasamy, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD, of the University of Oxford, discusses initial results of the phase II/III UK-based RADAR trial. The study evaluated isatuximab, bortezomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone, and cyclophosphamide induction, followed by single autologous stem cell transplant, consolidation with isatuximab plus bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, and isatuximab plus lenalidomide maintenance, in patients with double-hit multiple myeloma (Abstract 98).
The ASCO Post Staff
Jack Khouri, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, describes the findings of a phase II trial which investigated the safety and efficacy of burixafor (GPC-100), a potent and selective small -molecule antagonist of CXCR4, and propranolol with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for the mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in patients with multiple myeloma. Researchers aimed to boost the bone marrow HPC niche and optimize mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma eligible for autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (Abstract 1050).