VJHemOnc Podcast

A stimulating session on the implications of genomic data for the management of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients was hosted at the 1st International Workshop on Acute Leukemias (iwAL 2018), held in St. Pete Beach, FL. Here, the session speakers discuss the intriguing presentations from the session. Mark Levis, MD, PhD, of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, is joined by Ari Melnick, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, Klaus Metzeler, MD, of LMU-University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany, and Torsten Haferlach, MD, of the MLL Munich Leukemia Laboratory, Munich, Germany. Firstly, the epigenome is discussed, with the fascinating topic of epigenetic alleles covered. The clinical implications of the genetic and molecular characterization of acute leukemia are then considered. The use of artificial intelligence in the analysis of the massive amounts of data that come from genetic and epigenetic sequencing is discussed by the experts. The intriguing nature of pre-leukemic clones, which are distinct from minimal residual disease, is also explored by the panel.

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The use of minimal residual disease (MRD) in the management of acute leukemias is a hotly debated topic. Despite the potential of MRD status as a prognostic marker and measure of disease, there are a number of controversies surrounding its use. These were discussed in a thought-provoking session at the 1st International Workshop on Acute Leukemias (iwAL), held in St. Pete Beach, FL. Chairing the discussion, Farhad Ravandi, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, is joined by Marion Subklewe, MD, of LMU-University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany, and Adriano Venditti, MD, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Dr Subklewe covers the use of MRD in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is lagging behind that in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

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Immunotherapy has emerged in recent years as an effective novel treatment for lymphoma, with studies constantly striving to identify new molecules that could help patients.  Here, Graham Collins, MA, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, DPhil, of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK, discusses the current state of lymphoma immunotherapy research, including follow-up data on the efficacy of rituximab, and information on several newer treatments, such as ADCC-activating monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates. Dr Collins also discusses some of the most exciting data yet to be released in the field, such as that from the ECHELON-1 trial and the use of CAR T-cells in lymphoma. This feature was recorded at the 2017 National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Conference, held in Liverpool, UK.

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In this lively discussion, Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD, FRACP, FRCPA, from the Children’s National Health System and George Washington University, Washington, DC, chairs on the hot topic of immunotherapy in lymphoma. Joined by Stephan Ansell, MD, PhD, of the Mayo Clinic, MN, and Steve Gottschalk, MD, from Bayor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, they discuss the immunotherapy session at the 2017 International Workshop on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (iwNHL) in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The panel debate various topics, including toxicity and finding the best combinations for therapies, including the likes of CAR T-cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

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In this exciting feature, Carlo Croce, MD, from Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, provides an overview of the history of advancements in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) research. Prof. Croce delivers insights into the discovery of the genetic mechanisms and targets of CLL, including his group’s identification of BCL2 and the role of two microRNAs in the pathogenesis of CLL. He explains the advances in CLL in terms of drug therapies that have been able to target the BCL2 gene, which have revolutionized the treatment of CLL patients. This feature was recorded at the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL) 2017, held in New York, NY.

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This is a very exciting time for multiple myeloma (MM) research, with advances in a range of areas from new endpoints, to novel therapies and imaging. In this video, an overview of these updates are given by Gareth Morgan, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD of UAMS Myeloma Institute, Little Rock, AR, Nina Shah, MD of UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, CA and Leif Bergsagel, MD from the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ following day 2 of the Myeloma 2017 meeting in Edinburgh, UK.

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