Blood Podcast

In this week's episode, we'll be comparing BTK inhibitors in relapsed/refractory CLL. Then, we'll hear how researchers in the UK unraveled the genetic background of the AnWj blood group.  Finally we'll learn about the role of BCL-2 and BAFF in CLL cell survival following venetoclax therapy. 

Featured Articles:

• Deletions in the MAL gene result in loss of Mal protein, defining the rare inherited AnWj-negative blood group phenotype
• Sustained benefit of zanubrutinib vs ibrutinib in patients with R/R CLL/SLL: final comparative analysis of ALPINE
• Venetoclax dose escalation rapidly activates a BAFF/BCL-2 survival axis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In this week's episode, we’ll learn more about mechanisms of primary resistance to BCMA-targeted bispecific T-cell engagers in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, the effects of emapalumab therapy on outcomes in patients with pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis who receive stem cell transplants, and a cell death process that may help account for increased thromboembolic risk in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

Featured Articles:

• Impact of soluble BCMA and non–T-cell factors on refractoriness to BCMA-targeting T-cell engagers in multiple myeloma
• Emapalumab therapy for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis before reduced-intensity transplantation improves chimerism
• GSDME-mediated pyroptosis contributes to chemotherapy-induced platelet hyperactivity and thrombotic potential

In this week's episode, unravelling follicular lymphoma subtypes. Researchers dissect the biological diversity of follicular lymphoma and introduce a new prognostic mode, that could change the way this B-cell neoplasm is subtyped and treated. Then, concerning stroke rate trends in sickle cell disease. A new report shows increasing rates of cerebrovascular events among people with SCD in California. Finally, procoagulant platelet activation promotes venous thrombosis. Investigators report finding procoagulant platelets in the circulation and in thrombi of patients and mice with DVT or PE. 

Featured Articles:

• Follicular lymphoma comprises germinal center–like and memory-like molecular subtypes with prognostic significance
• Rates of strokes in Californians with sickle cell disease in the post-STOP era
• Procoagulant platelet activation promotes venous thrombosis

In this week's episode we’ll learn more about how clonal hematopoiesis affects prognosis in patients with telomere biology disorders, consider recently uncovered molecular subtypes of extracutaneous juvenile xanthogranulomas, and discuss a clinical trial of the BCMA-CD3 bispecific antibody teclistamab in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma who have received previous BCMA-targeted therapy.

Featured Articles:

• Clonal landscape and clinical outcomes of telomere biology disorders: somatic rescue and cancer mutations
• Recurrent CLTC::SYK fusions and CSF1R mutations in juvenile xanthogranuloma of soft tissue
• Efficacy and safety of teclistamab in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma after BCMA-targeting therapies

In this week's podcast, we'll learn about targeting mutant calreticulin in MPNs, or myeloproliferative neoplasms. Then, it’s time to address bleeding and clotting in cancer. Results of the prospective, observational CAT-BLED study provide much needed data on the high risk of clinically relevant bleeding, and its association with all-cause mortality, among cancer patients receiving systemic therapy. Finally, we'll revisit diagnostic guidelines for familial HLH, or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The authors present new and improved diagnostic criteria with revised clinical criteria, and guidelines on cellular and genetic diagnostic assays.

Featured Articles:

• Selective targeting of mutated calreticulin by the monoclonal antibody INCA033989 inhibits oncogenic function of MPN
• Bleeding events in patients with cancer: incidence, risk factors, and impact on prognosis in a prospective cohort study
• Diagnostic guidelines for familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis revisited

In this Review Series episode on T-Cell Lymphomas introduced by Dr. Philippe Armand we’ll hear from Drs. Laurence de Leval, Javeed Iqbal, and Enrica Marchi about their work concerning new treatment practices and insights to various t-cell lymphomas.

Click here to view the complete Review Series featured in Volume 144 Issue 18 of Blood.

In this week's episode we’ll learn more about a new risk classification scheme for use in patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are ineligible for intensive therapy, efficacy and safety of daratumumab plus chemotherapy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma, and a blood bank-compatible method for creating genetically engineered platelets with a wide range of potential uses.

Featured Articles:

• Genetic Risk Stratification and Outcomes Among Treatment-Naive Patients with AML Treated With Venetoclax and Azacitidine 
• Daratumumab in Pediatric Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: DELPHINUS Study 
• Genetic Engineering of Transfusable Platelets with mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticles is Compatible with Blood Banking Practices 

In this week's episode we'll learn about new explorations in extramedullary myeloma. Then, we'll hear about the role of ruxolitinib in children with acute GvHD. Finally: yapping about YAP1 as a new treatment target in immune thrombocytopenia. 

Featured Articles:

• Spatial transcriptomics reveals profound subclonal heterogeneity and T-cell dysfunction in extramedullary myeloma
• Ruxolitinib for pediatric patients with treatment-naïve and steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: the REACH4 study
• YAP1 regulates thrombopoiesis by binding to MYH9 in immune thrombocytopenia

In this week's episode we’ll learn more about the ASCEND study, which investigated first-line asciminib in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia; a new risk score for myeloid neoplasm transformation in patients with clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance; and use of RHD genotyped D-positive blood transfusions in patients with sickle cell and unexpected anti-D antibodies.

Featured Articles

• Asciminib Monotherapy as Frontline Treatment of Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia - Results from the ASCEND Study
• Risk Prediction for Clonal Cytopenia: Multicenter Real-World Evidence 
• Genotyped RhD+ red cells for D-positive patients with sickle cell disease with conventional RHD and unexpected anti-D 

In this week's episode we'll learn about the updated phase 3 results on fixed-dose venetoclax plus obinutuzumab in previously untreated CLL. Then, we'll hear about dual epi-immunotherapy in classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Finally we'll explore redefining risk of treatment failure in CML.

Featured Articles:

• Venetoclax-obinutuzumab for previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 6-year results of the randomized phase 3 CLL14 study
• Epigenetic agents plus anti-PD-1 reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore antitumor efficacy in Hodgkin lymphoma
• A predictive model for therapy failure in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy