VJHemOnc Podcast

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a common complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), which is typically classified as acute or chronic. In this week's VJHemOnc podcast, we'll be sharing key highlights from the 50th Annual Meeting of the EBMT, drawing focus on the biology and treatment of GvHD.

Tune in as experts Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, Ernst Holler, MD, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, and Florent Malard, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital and Sorbonne University, Paris, France, provide insights into current and emerging treatment approaches for acute and chronic GvHD, discussing the advent of new therapies. Following this, you'll learn about the importance of the gut microbiome in the severity of GvHD and how this can be manipulated to improve patient outcomes.

In recent years, there has been great emphasis placed on the importance of cardio-oncology, with both cardiologists and hematologists highlighting the value of collaboration between specialists when treating patients with hematological malignancies. Furthermore, the 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) cardio-oncology guidelines aim to help healthcare professionals with the treatment and management of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicities (CTR-CVT).

In this podcast, Daniel Lenihan, MD, FACC, Saint Francis Healthcare System, Cape Girardeau, MO, Raul Cordoba, MD, PhD, University Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain, and Iskra Pusic, MD, MSCI, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, unravel the critical relevance of cardio-oncology, stressing the significance of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and the application of the ESC 2022 guidelines. Discussing their experiences from different healthcare institutions across the globe, the experts underscore the importance of cooperation between cardiologists and hematologists as they navigate difficult medical decisions for patients with specific complications.

Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) are two well-known precursor conditions to multiple myeloma, and the possibility of early interception is a growing area of interest in the field.

In this week's podcast, you will hear from Shaji Kumar, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Elena Zamagni, MD, PhD, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, and Bruno Paiva, PhD, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, who discuss novel technologies being explored to risk stratify individuals with SMM and MGUS. Following this, Irene Ghobrial, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, Kwee Yong, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, University College London, London, UK, and Omar Nadeem, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, discuss the possibility of early interception in SMM, highlighting ongoing trials in the field. This episode is part of our podcast series from the 2024 Intercepting Blood Cancers (IBC) Workshop, which was held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and clonal cytopenia of unknown significance (CCUS) are considered precursor diseases to hematologic malignancies, indicating early stages of blood disorders that may progress to more serious conditions such as leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

In this podcast, Uma Borate, MD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Kelly Bolton, MD, PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, and Eric Padron, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, discuss knowledge gaps in the field, share insights from ongoing trials, and further emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in managing CHIP and CCUS. This episode is part of our podcast series from the 2024 Intercepting Blood Cancers (IBC) Workshop, which was held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) is a condition characterized by the presence of an abnormal increase in B lymphocytes in the blood. MBL is considered a precursor condition to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); however, not all cases of MBL progress to CLL, and many individuals with MBL do not require treatment.

In this podcast, Stephen Ansell, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Paolo Ghia, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, Andrew Rawstron, PhD, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK, and Anton Langerak, MD, PhD, Erasmus Medical Center and University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, discuss the biology, classification, and possible interventions for MBL. This discussion took place at the 2024 Intercepting Blood Cancers Workshop in Lisbon, Portugal. 

The introduction of CAR-T therapy has revolutionized the myeloma treatment landscape, offering a promising therapeutic approach for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. There are currently two approved CAR-T cells in multiple myeloma: idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) and ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), with ongoing studies exploring the possibility of bringing these agents into earlier lines of treatment.

In this podcast, Maria-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, Rakesh Popat, BSc, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, University College London Hospitals, London, UK, and Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, discuss the significance of CAR-T therapy in myeloma, how to select patients for CAR-T therapy, the evolving role of autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT), and more. 

While there have been advances in the treatment and management of amyloidosis in recent years, diagnosis remains a challenge due to the highly varied presentation of this disease. As clinicians and researchers work to improve outcomes for patients, there is increasing importance being placed on the role of the multidisciplinary team in treating these patients.

In this podcast, you will hear from Morie Gertz, MD, MACP, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Ashutosh Wechalekar, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, DM, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and Daniel Lenihan, MD, FACC, Saint Francis Health System, Cape Girardeau, MO, who discuss the significant role of cardio-oncology in amyloidosis, currently available therapies, diagnostic approaches being explored, and more.

Although CAR-T cells have revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies, there are several important factors that must be addressed regarding the use of these agents. One ongoing challenge is the prevention and management of CAR-T-related toxicities, including immune effector cell-associated hematotoxicity (ICAHT), as well as how to improve affordability and access to these agents. 

In this podcast, you will hear from Ulrich Jäger, MD, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, who discusses the importance of lymphodepletion in CAR-T therapy, Kai Rejeski, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, who updates us on ICAHT, and Gérard de Pouvourville, PhD, ESSEC Business School, Cergy, France, who shares his thoughts on the cost effectiveness of these agents.

The treatment landscape of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has transformed with the introduction of novel immunotherapeutic agents, including CAR-T cells and antibody-based therapies. Despite these advances, several challenges remain in the field. In today's episode, you will hear the latest updates with the use of CAR-T therapy in ALL, as discussed by renowned experts during the EBMT-EHA 6th European CAR T-cell meeting.

In this podcast, André Baruchel, MD, PhD, Hospital Robert Debré AP-HP, Paris, France, Pere Barba, MD, PhD, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, and Alex Rampotas, MD, University College London, London, UK, cover several topics, including challenges with administering CAR-T therapy in B- and T-ALL, the possibility of exploring dual-targeting of CD19 and CD22 to overcome resistance, considerations for managing patients with B-ALL prior to CAR-T therapy, and more.

The treatment landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has transformed in recent years with the introduction of novel targeted agents, including FLT3 inhibitors, IDH inhibitors, and menin inhibitors. Menin inhibitors are currently being explored in several clinical trials, both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents.

In this podcast, Mark Levis, MD, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Ghayas Issa, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Ibrahim Aldoss, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, and Aaron Goldberg, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, comment on the growing role of targeted agents in AML. The experts draw focus on the promise of menin inhibitors, highlighting findings from the AUGMENT-101 (NCT04065399) and KOMET-008 (NCT05735184) trials.