Jennifer Woyach, MD, on Relapsed/Refractory CLL: Next-Generation BTK Inhibitor
ASH 2025
Jennifer Woyach, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, reviews phase I data on rocbrutinib, a new selective next-generation inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and prior exposure to BTK and/or BCL-2 inhibitors (Abstract 87).
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).
The ASCO Post Staff
Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, reviews data from three abstracts in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) presented at this year’s meeting: outcomes from the phase III VERONA trial of venetoclax with azacitidine vs placebo with azacitidine in patients with treatment-naive intermediate- and higher-risk MDS (Abstract 235); safety and efficacy results from a phase Ib trial of a dual IRAK1/4 inhibitor in patients with relapsed/refractory lower-risk MDS (Abstract 489); and results from the phase II ASTX030-01 trial, showing pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and safety data of oral ASTX030 in patients with MDS (Abstract 491).
The ASCO Post Staff
Mikkael Sekeres, MD, MS, Chief, Division of Hematology and Professor of Medicine at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, presents findings from a new study that connects exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange to earlier and more severe cases of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Researchers concluded that exposure is associated with younger age at MDS diagnosis, ultimate MDS diagnosis, genetic complexity of MDS, increased risk of disease progression, and with Black race (Abstract 5626).
The ASCO Post Staff
Aaron Gerds, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, reviews results of an evaluation of Synapsis AI, a medically trained, large language model–based end-to-end system, focusing on its accuracy and efficiency in identifying eligible patients for an active phase III polycythemia vera clinical trial (Abstract 4340).
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).