Project Oncology®

For patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who relapse after BTK inhibitor (BTKi) therapy, treatment decisions can be complex and time sensitive. That’s why understanding how tumor biology and risk features can guide selection between immunomodulatory regimens and CAR T-cell therapy is essential. Tune in to hear Dr. Charles Turck speak with Dr. Michael Wang about practical, evidence-based strategies for managing relapsed/refractory MCL. Dr. Wang is a Professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma in the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a condition of vascular permeability that’s associated with tagraxofusp (TAG), a CD123-directed therapy approved for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).1 Early recognition of signs and symptoms of CLS is critical to reduce patients’ risk of severe sequelae, which can include multi-organ failure and death.2-4 Joining Dr. Jennifer Caudle to discuss strategies for early identification and intervention of CLS in BPDCN patients treated with TAG is Dr. James McCloskey. Dr. James McCloskey is the Chief of the Division of Leukemia at Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center, part of Hackensack University Medical Center.

Dr. McCloskey has received compensation from Stemline to present the following information on behalf of Stemline.

References:

1. Tagraxofusp-erzs [package insert], New York, NY; Stemline Therapeutics, Inc.
2. Siddall E, Khatri M, Radhakrishnan J. Capillary leak syndrome: etiologies, pathophysiology, and management. Kidney Int. 2017;92(1):37–46. doi:10.1016/j.kint.2016.11.029
3. Clinicaltrials.gov. CTCAE. Accessed May 21, 2025. https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocoldevelopment/electronic_applications/docs/ctcae_v5_ quick_reference_8.5x11.pdf
4. Pemmaraju N, Madanat YF, Rizzieri D, et al. Treatment of patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN): focus on the use of tagraxofusp and clinical considerations. Leuk Lymphoma. 2024;65(5):548–559. doi:10.1080/10428194.2024.2305288

Race-based spirometry adjustments have long influenced pulmonary risk assessments, often underestimating disease severity in Black patients. Hear from Dr. Ajay Sheshadri as he examines the historical misuse of race in lung function testing, explores race-neutral modeling in surgical risk prediction, and highlights the need for data-driven, continuous risk assessment tools in caring for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Dr. Sheshadri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

As medicine shifts toward race-neutral lung function interpretation, new challenges emerge in ensuring equitable access to care. Dr. Ajay Sheshadri explores how race-neutral spirometry may impact patient selection for lung resection surgery and hematopoietic cell transplantation. Dr. Sheshadri is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

A 2025 study in Chest evaluated PREDICT, a precision medicine program at a large academic-community practice, designed to streamline testing and expand access to personalized treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hear from ReachMD's Ryan Quigley as he shares the key impacts of this approach and implications for care delivery.

Sickle cell disease management traditionally involves two primary treatment approaches: disease-modifying therapies and curative strategies. While disease-modifying therapies can help reduce complications associated with the disease, they do not correct or fix them, which is why curative strategies are appealing to some patients and physicians. Join Dr. Alexis Leonard as she discusses the current management landscape for sickle cell disease, including disease-modifying treatments, curative strategies, and potential gene therapies. Dr. Leonard works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

CRISPR technology, while relatively new, has shown potential in treating patients with sickle cell disease by increasing fetal hemoglobin. Though this gene therapy comes with safety considerations, refinements and advancements in CRISPR technology can offer new management options for sickle cell disease patients. Learn about the history of CRISPR as a sickle cell disease treatment and the future of this strategy with Dr. Alexis Leonard, who works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Gene therapy is redefining the treatment landscape for sickle cell disease, with approaches like gene addition, gene editing, and fetal hemoglobin induction showing promise in reducing or even eliminating symptoms. However, while these therapies offer some advantages over allogeneic stem cell transplant, they also come with significant challenges. In a conversation with Ryan Quigley, Dr. David Jacobsohn discusses considerations for these therapeutic approaches and their potential impacts on care plans for sickle cell disease patients. Dr. Jacobsohn is the Division Chief of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at Children’s National Hospital and Full Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

With two FDA-approved gene therapies, including the first CRISPR-based treatment, curative strategies for sickle cell disease are continuing to expand the treatment landscape. However, challenges remain in optimizing safety and accessibility, particularly for patients unable to tolerate current myeloablative conditioning. Learn about advancements in ex vivo editing, such as improved stem cell targeting and multiplex editing, and the possibility of in vivo approaches that may help transform sickle cell disease management with Dr. Alexis Leonard, who works in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

As the therapeutic landscape for follicular lymphoma continues to evolve, CAR T-cell therapy is emerging as a transformative option for select patients with relapsed or high-risk disease. But it also comes with a lot of important considerations, like knowing when to refer and how to manage common adverse events. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to explore how CAR T fits into the broader treatment algorithm for follicular lymphoma is Dr. Jonathan Cohen. Not only is he a Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Emory University School of Medicine, but he's also the Co-Director of the Lymphoma Program at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta.