VJHemOnc Podcast

Over the past decade there has been a vast increase in the number of clinical trials taking place in the field of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), with many trials investigating the potential benefits of novel JAK inhibitors both as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL or BET inhibitors. More recently, next-generation sequencing has led to the identification of further mutations associated with MPNs, which may provide alternative therapeutic targets. In particular, the telomerase inhibitor imetelstat and the MDM2 inhibitor KRT-232, have demonstrated potential benefits for patients with myelofibrosis, whilst the tyrosine kinase inhibitor avapritinib recently received FDA approval for the treatment of advanced systemic mastocytosis.

In this roundtable discussion, leading MPN experts Ruben Mesa, MD, from the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX, and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, review the top highlights from the 2021 European Hematology Association (EHA) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meetings, including data on novel JAK inhibitors and combination regimens, therapies for rarer MPNs and updates from ongoing Phase III trials of key treatments.

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Treatment options for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remain limited, with the rapid advances seen in other hematological malignancies not replicated in this space. Aside from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, current approaches are non-curative, instead aiming to delay disease progression and manage cytopenias. The development of second-line therapies is a particularly urgent need. However, much research is underway to address this paucity of available options. Many new agents, targets, and treatment approaches are in development or under investigation, such as novel HMA-based combinations, immunotherapies including magrolimab and sabatolimab, and first-in-class agents like pevondenistat.

Researchers and clinicians from across the world came together to share anticipated trial data and state-of-the-art developments with the MDS community at the recent 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European Hematology Association (EHA) meetings.

In this episode, VJSession chair Amer Zeidan, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, is joined by renowned experts Andrew Wei, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and David Sallman, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, to discuss exciting developments in the MDS space reported at the ASCO and EHA 2021 meetings. This MDS session features updates on the latest trial data for key approved and investigational agents, novel targets and therapeutics, and patient selection considerations in light of a broadening treatment armamentarium.

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Over the last years, the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) field has seen significant growth in new drugs and new treatment combinations. One emergent strategy is fixed-duration therapy, which combines two or more agents for a set timeframe. Fixed-duration therapy is an appealing option for different reasons, including shorter treatment times and lower costs. Ongoing clinical trials investigating fixed-duration therapy combinations, such as ibrutinib-venetoclax, will help determine the best drug combination as well as the patient populations that will benefit the most. Another increasingly important topic in the CLL field is the optimal treatment selection and sequencing of therapies in the era of targeted therapies.

In this exclusive podcast, Paolo Ghia, MD, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, Arnon Kater, MD, PhD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Jacqueline Barrientos, MD, MS, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, discuss some of the latest updates in CLL treatment presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress 2021.

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Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal hematologic malignancy defined by genetic heterogeneity due to recurrent gene mutations. Precision medicine has gained importance in the treatment of AML, with important developments in gene mutation-targeted therapeutic agents transforming the treatment landscape. The role of measurable residual disease (MRD), an independent, postdiagnosis, prognostic indicator, in AML has been explored for many years. Still, the implementation of standardized MRD techniques remains critical for their use in clinical practice. Although the field has seen major therapeutic advances, novel agents, targets, and regimens continue to be investigated to offer patients a more promising outcome.

In this VJSession, Naval Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, is joined by Eunice Wang, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, and Felicitas Thol, MD, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, who discuss the exciting updates in the field of AML from the 2021 EHA and ASCO meetings, including developments in targeted therapeutic agents, MRD approaches and emerging therapies and targets.

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The treatment and management of multiple myeloma has evolved drastically over the last ten years with the introduction of many novel drug classes and therapies, resulting in notable improvements in overall survival. However, many patients remain relapsed or refractory and thus clinical trials of novel agents and combinations are key to improving the outcomes of high-risk subgroups. In particular, there has been a rapid increase in the number of immunotherapies being trialled for myeloma patients, including monoclonal antibody and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies.

In this podcast, Saad Usmani, MD, MBBS, MBA, from the Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, Maria-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, from the University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, Enrique M. Ocio, MD, PhD, from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain, Amrita Krishnan, MD, from City of Hope, Duarte, CA, and Evangelos Terpos, MD, PhD, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, share key updates on clinical trials of novel therapies and regimens for the treatment of multiple myeloma, as presented at this year’s Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2021).

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