VJHemOnc Podcast

Improved understanding around the pathophysiology and heterogeneity of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has led to a rapidly evolving treatment paradigm for this disease. New therapies and drug approvals have improved outcomes for patients, and in those not eligible for standard induction chemotherapy followed by transplantation, lower-intensity therapies have allowed patients to achieve disease control.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2020 Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2020) was held virtually – and it didn’t disappoint in the quality and breadth of data presented.

In this roundtable discussion, Naval Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, David Sallman, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, Eunice Wang, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, and Amir Fathi, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA, discuss and debate the key updates in the management of patients with AML presented at ASH 2020.

The post The AML Sessions: highlights from ASH 2020 appeared first on VJHemOnc.

The epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) varies across the globe. In resource-limited countries, the diagnosis of MDS can be challenging – and databases with up-to-date information on the epidemiology of MDS is also not always available. Access to the latest technologies for diagnosis and treatment of patients can also be challenging.

In this roundtable discussion, Amer Zeidan, MBBS, Yale University and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT chairs an excellent session discussing the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of MDS around the world. Dr Zeidan is joined by Anne Mwirigi, BSc, MBChB, MRCP, FRCPath, Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, David Gomez-Almaguer, MD, Hospital Universitario UANL, Monterrey, Mexico, Mariana Guaraná, MD, Hemorio Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rishi Dhawan, MD, MRCP, DM, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, India and Iman Abou Dallé, MD, Naef K. Bassile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Centre, Lebanon.

The post The MDS Sessions: treating MDS around the world appeared first on VJHemOnc.

Amyloidosis is the name attributed to a group of diseases caused by the extracellular accumulation of amyloid, an abnormal, insoluble protein. Amyloid forms when protein misfolding transforms soluble precursor proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils. Amyloid fibrils can disseminate systemically and deposition on organs causes disturbance of organ function. Deposition in cardiac tissue, kidneys and the central nervous system are the primary causes of patient deterioration. There are four main types of amyloidosis: AL (light chain), AA (inflammation), ATTR (hereditary and old age) and AB2M (caused by dialysis). AL amyloidosis is the most common type and is caused by clonal plasma cell dyscrasia. Treatment strategies depend on the type of amyloidosis. Recent treatment developments include novel chemotherapy agents and immunotherapies with monoclonal antibody therapies in particular showing promise.

In this podcast, Morie Gertz, MD, MACP, of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, Jason Valent, MD, from the Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, and Efstathios Kastritis, MD, of the University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece, discuss updates in the amyloidosis field presented at this year’s virtual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition.

The post Advances in the amyloidosis space: Prognostic factors, CAEL-101 immunotherapy and real-world data appeared first on VJHemOnc.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell malignancy, predominantly affecting the elderly, which is characterized by an accumulation of immunologically immature lymphocytes in the bone marrow, blood and lymphatic tissue. CLL is the most common type of leukemia. It develops very slowly and is generally incurable, with relapses often occurring after treatment. The past decade has seen significant growth in treatment options for CLL patients. While chemotherapy is still often used, numerous effective targeted agents are approved for use in CLL, both first-line and for relapsed/refractory disease. These include venetoclax, a BCL2 inhibitor approved for use in CLL in 2019; ibrutinib, a BTK inhibitor often used upfront; and monoclonal antibodies, including rituximab and obinutuzumab. The CLL field is currently seeing further exploration of targeted agents as well as trials of novel treatment combinations.

The post Developments in CLL: MRD, LOXO-305 and venetoclax at ASH 2020 appeared first on VJHemOnc.

The field of multiple myeloma is rapidly evolving and can be credited to an increased understanding of the biology of the disease leading to an improvement in patients outcomes. Despite vast advances, the clinical management of patients with multiple myeloma remains challenging, namely resistance in relapsed patients as well as the identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers.

In this podcast following the virtual annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2020 meeting, we hear from three leading experts in multiple myeloma, Niels van de Donk of the UV University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Yi Lin of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Maria-Victoria Mateos, of the University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, who address the latest therapeutic approaches presented at ASH 2020 annual meeting. This interview was recorded via an online conference call with The Video Journal of Hematological Oncology (VJHemOnc).

The post Myeloma at ASH 2020: talquetemab, CARTITUDE-1 & highlights appeared first on VJHemOnc.