ASTCT Talks

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Dr. Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP, sits down with Dr. Amrita Krishnan, MD. They delve into the use of GPRC5D as a target in myeloma therapy, specifically focusing on Talquetamab.

Dr. Krishnan shares insights from the MonumenTAL-1 trial, discussing the dosing schedules and response rates with GPRC5D-targeted therapy. They explore the unique toxicities associated with this treatment, such as cytokine release syndrome and skin and nail toxicities. The conversation also touches on the considerations for patients who have previously received BCMA-targeted therapies and the potential of GPRC5D-targeted therapy in improving outcomes.

Tune in to learn about the evolving landscape of myeloma treatment beyond BCMA.

About Dr. Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP

Dr. Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP, (@RahulBanerjeeMD) is an Assistant Professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and at the University of Washington. His clinical interests are in multiple myeloma and CAR-T therapy. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications with a research emphasis on reducing toxicities and improving the patient experience during treatment for multiple myeloma.

About Dr. Amrita Krishnan, MD

Dr. Amrita Krishnan, MD (@DoctorAKrishnan) directs the Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research at City of Hope, seeking to make gains in one of the most rapidly changing areas in cancer research.

A key member of the City of Hope team since 1996, Dr. Krishnan trained at The University of Rochester, Beth Israel Hospital, Fred Hutchinson Research Cancer Center and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She serves as a steering committee member on the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the North American representative to the International Myeloma Society, former chair of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network myeloma committee and is the Co-Chair of several of the largest myeloma transplant trials in the U.S.

Her research interests are in development of new drugs for relapsed myeloma and understanding mechanisms of disease resistance.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Misty Evans, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC, sits down with Flora Stondell, FNP, to delve into the intricacies of University of California, Davis’ (UC Davis’) transplant and cellular therapy program, with a specific focus on CAR T cell therapy.

In this insightful conversation, they discuss topics such as patient access, the timeline from referral to CAR-T therapy initiation, overcoming insurance barriers, and the patient education process. Stondell shares valuable insights gained from her experience in the field, highlighting the crucial role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in delivering high-quality care throughout the CAR-T therapy journey.

About Misty Evans, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC

Dr. Misty Evans (@MistyEvansDNP) is an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She is also nurse practitioner at Sarah Cannon Pediatric Hematology/Oncology &

Cellular Therapy at TriStar Centennial in Nashville, TN. Dr. Evans has a strong clinical background in pediatric hematology-oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplant. She currently serves as ASTCT Director of APPs.

About Flora Stondell, FNP

Flora Stondell is an Advanced Practice Supervisor and the Assistant Director for the Bone Marrow Transplant service at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Health. She specializes in Cellular Therapy and Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant, which includes: autologous, allogeneic (matched and mis-matched donors), and haplo-identical transplant. She focuses on the care of patients during pre-transplant and post-transplant. She also assists in providing consultation for patients who may be eligible for transplant.

En este último episodio de ASTCT Talks, el Mensaje del Presidente de octubre, el Dr. Andrés Gómez De León está acompañado por el Dr. Miguel Perales, Presidente de ASTCT y Jefe del Servicio de Trasplante de Médula Ósea en Adultos del Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center y Profesor de Medicina en Facultad de Medicina Weill Cornell. Profundizan en el papel vital, pero a menudo pasado por alto, de la actividad física en los trasplantes de terapia celular y hematopoyética, discutiendo desafíos, enfoques proactivos como la "prehabitación", la brecha en la investigación y los efectos transformadores del movimiento en la recuperación.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, the October President's Message, Dr. Andrés Gómez De León is joined by Dr. Miguel Perales, President of ASTCT and Chief of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. They delve into the vital but often overlooked role of physical activity in hematopoietic and cell therapy transplants, discussing challenges, proactive approaches like "pre-hab," the research gap, and the transformative effects of movement on recovery.

Click here to listen to this episode in Spanish.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Dr. Rebecca Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Katie Gatwood and Dr. Timothy Porter to kick off National Pharmacy Month by discussing the clinical implications of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) use outside of the haploidentical setting. They delve into their respective cancer centers' primary donor sources for match unrelated donors and the breakdown of conditioning intensity within their hematologic patients. They delve into the future of PTCy discussing the potential for earlier de-escalation of immunosuppressants to limit drug-related toxicities and optimize patient outcomes as well as important supportive care considerations. Despite the exciting prospects, the need for robust prospective data before implementation is emphasized.

About Dr. Rebecca Gonzalez

Dr. Rebecca Gonzalez (@xnyerin) received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY2 Oncology residency at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Following post-doctoral training, Dr. Gonzalez was a Hematology Clinical Pharmacist at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute prior to transitioning to Moffitt Cancer Center in 2015. She is Board Certified in Oncology Pharmacy and currently practices as a Clinical Pharmacist in Blood and Marrow Transplant/Cellular Immunotherapy at Moffitt in Tampa, Florida. She was a past chair of the ASTCT Pharmacy Program Planning Committee in 2021-2022 and has been involved in several ASTCT teaching activities since 2017. Her interests include survivorship, GVHD, supportive care and infectious disease complications related to transplant and immune cellular therapy.

About Dr. Katie Gatwood

Dr. Gatwood is a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacist Specialist specializing in Adult Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Michigan and completed her residency training at the University of North Carolina Health Care. Dr. Gatwood is the chair-elect of the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG Sterring Committee. She was also awarded the 2021 ASTCT Pharmacy SIG New Practitioner Award and is passionate about clinical research and education, with a focus on VOD, CAR T-cell therapy, and oncology pharmacists' role in ambulatory care.

About Dr. Timothy Porter

Dr. Timothy Porter is a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist and practices as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Immunotherapy at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. He earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, followed by a PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He then practiced as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital before transitioning to Moffitt Cancer Center in 2022. Dr. Porter is a member of the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG Education Committee and serves as the Journal Club Lead. His professional interests include management of infectious complications in immunocompromised patients, GVHD, CAR T-cell therapy, clinical research, and education.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, we sit down with Associate Professor Nada Hamad, senior staff specialist in bone marrow transplant, and a clinical and laboratory hematologist at St. Vincent’s hospital in Sydney, to explore the impact of intersectionality on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in transplant recipients. She dives into how gender and race can compound biases in research, education, and clinical practice, affecting GVHD severity and outcomes. Further discussions center on the need for research into how age, socioeconomic status, and geographic region intersect with GVHD incidence and treatment strategies. In addition, Nada stresses the need to include social determinants of health in prognostic models to improve patient outcomes. She also advocates for healthcare professionals to create safe spaces and co-design solutions that integrate intersectionality into healthcare practices for patients with intersecting identities.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Christina Cho, MD, interviews Lori Muffly, MD, MS. During the conversation, Dr. Muffly emphasizes the need for more randomized data in ALL treatment and addresses the unique challenges of treating young adults, including fertility preservation. Dr. Muffly also emphasizes the significance of measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring using the clonoSEQ® Assay, offering valuable insights into leukemia care.

About Lori Muffly, MD, MS

Lori Muffly, MD, MS, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, specializes in adult acute leukemia research, clinical trials, and hematopoietic cell transplantation. Her work focuses on improving cancer care access and reducing disparities in young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dr. Muffly leads multiple health outcomes studies and clinical trials, including research on measurable residual disease, CAR T-cell therapies, and real-world outcomes for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. She has a history of successful collaboration with fellow researchers and is a sought-after national speaker on adolescent and young adult leukemia and cancer care access.

About Christina Cho, MD

Christina Cho, MD is a hematologist/oncologist specializing in adult stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy at Hackensack University Medical Center’s John Theurer Cancer Center. Dr. Cho conducts clinical research on stem cell transplantation, including therapies for leukemia and sickle cell disease. She is an active member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and currently serves as editor for ASTCT Nucleus.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Rahul Banerjee interviews Josh Epworth, a lead nurse practitioner in the plasma cell disorders clinic at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. They delve into the topic of monitoring after CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma. Mr. Epworth shares insights from his experience in the outpatient setting, discussing issues like hypogammaglobulinemia, immune cell functionality, and infections that may arise after CAR-T treatment. They also touch on monitoring for cytomegalovirus (CMV) and other respiratory viruses, as well as the importance of developing close relationships with local healthcare providers to ensure patients receive timely care.

About Josh Epworth, MSN, ARNP

Josh Epworth is a Nurse Practitioner at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC) and is a Teaching Associate at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is board-certified in Adult/Gerontology medicine and specializes in the treatment of multiple myeloma. As a staff member of FHCC’s multiple myeloma team, Mr. Epworth is involved in disease treatment, symptom management, patient education and clinical trials.

About Dr. Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP

Dr. Banerjee, MD, FACP, (@RahulBanerjeeMD) is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Washington and at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Prior to moving to Seattle, he completed his hematology/oncology fellowship and advanced fellowship in BMT/CAR-T therapy at the University of California San Francisco. His clinical interests are in multiple myeloma, AL amyloidosis, and CAR-T therapy. His research interests are in toxicity management, digital health, and the patient experience.

This episode was sponsored by Janssen Oncology and Legend Biotech.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Dr. Tania Jain engages in a conversation with Dr. Richard Jones, the BMT director and co-director of the Hematologic Malignancies Programs at Johns Hopkins University. He shares his journey in the field of oncology and transplantation, reflecting on the life events and experiences that led him to this path. He delves into the groundbreaking development of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) and its significant impact on transplant procedures. Gain insights into the behind-the-scenes efforts and the role PTCy has played in expanding donor options and improving graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis. The episode also highlights Dr. Jones' dedication to mentoring and his commitment to family, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance in this profession.

About Dr. Rick Jones

Richard J. Jones, M.D. is Professor of Oncology, Medicine, and Pathobiology, Associate Director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center for Faculty and Program Development, as well as Director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) and co-Director of the Hematologic Malignancies Programs at Johns Hopkins University. His major area of research interest is normal and malignant stem cell biology, especially the translation of promising findings from the laboratory to the clinic to improve the treatment of malignant and non-malignant blood disorders. Examples of his research accomplishments have been the development of the stem cell marker Aldefluor and high-dose cyclophosphamide for auto- and alloimmunity. The latter has led to the ability to safely perform partially mismatched BMT, allowing now everyone in need access to BMT. He has authored over 300 articles and book chapters on hematopoiesis, hematologic malignancies, and transplantation biology. Dr. Jones is a past Stohlman Memorial Scholar of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

About Dr. Tania Jain, MBBS

Dr. Jain, MBBS, (@TaniaJain11) is a physician scientist in the hematological malignancies and stem cell transplantation division with Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Johns Hopkins. Her academic focus is cellular therapy and transplantation in the treatment of high-risk hematological malignancies especially myeloproliferative neoplasms. Her primary research focus is to develop strategies to improve outcomes and prevent relapse of hematological malignancies following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. She also serves as the Director of the Immune Effector Cell (IEC) Therapy at Johns Hopkins, where they are currently expanding their CAR T program to help patients with advanced hematological malignancies. Her academic interest in this space lies in developing novel IEC strategies and studying aspects of toxicity of CAR T cell therapy with an aim to improve long term outcomes in these patients.

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, the June President's Message, we are joined by Dr. Miguel Perales, President of ASTCT and Chief of the Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. This episode features a personal story of a patient with aggressive lymphoma who initially had doubts about the effectiveness of transplantation but ultimately experienced a fulfilling life post-transplant. Dr. Perales' story underscores the significance of educating colleagues about improved outcomes and advancements in cell therapies. He also delves into the primary barriers to access in the field and the initiatives undertaken by ASTCT to address these obstacles, aiming to ensure patients receive life-saving treatments. Listeners can gain insights into the actions that the ASTCT community can take to combat misconceptions, including engaging with local physicians, providing educational resources, and fostering collaboration between academic centers and community practitioners.