Leukemia

Opposition to a European Patent for CAR-T Therapy: A Mechanism to Control High Drug Prices?

The nongovernmental organizations argued that patents for this CAR-T should never have been granted in the first place because the underlying technology is not novel.

Triple Therapy for CLL Shows Promise in Phase 2 Trial

By

Caroline Seydel

Most patients achieved deep remission after a 14-month regimen of obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, and venetoclax.

Venetoclax With 10-day Decitabine May Induce High Activity in High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By

Patricia Chaney

Patients with newly diagnosed AML who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy may benefit from a 10-day course of decitabine with venetoclax.

Venetoclax With a Hypomethylating Agent Effective in Treatment-Naive or Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By

Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Regardless of genotype, venetoclax with a hypomethylating agent yields strong response and survival outcomes among patients with treatment-naive or R/R AML.

Uncommon Mutation in CLL Associated With More Favorable Prognostic Factors

By

Christina Bennett, MS

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma who had an L265P MYD88 mutation were uncommon and had distinct features.

Risk-Adapted Bendamustine and Rituximab: An Alternative for Older Individuals With CLL

By

Christina Bennett, MS

Risk-adapted dosing of bendamustine and rituximab may be beneficial and tolerable for elderly patients with CLL, a retrospective study found.

Targeted Molecular Therapies for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

By

Jessica Nye, PhD

Researchers reviewed promising advances in therapy options for patients with CLL and the challenges associated with these new treatments.

Outcomes for Adolescents With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

By

Vicki Moore, PhD

Clinical trial results indicate that adolescent patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have poorer outcomes than younger patients do.

Oral AML Therapy Onureg Gets FDA Approval

By

Brian Park, PharmD

The approval was based on data from the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 QUAZAR study.

Prior Use of Novel Agents Does Not Affect alloHCT Outcomes in CLL

By

Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

Prior treatment with at least 1 novel agent did not affect allogeneic transplant outcomes among patients with CLL.

Risk for Pancreatitis Greater Among Hispanic Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

By

Jessica Nye, PhD

Race and ethnicity was a factor in risk for pancreatitis among children with ALL, as was age and presence of obesity and hyperglycemia.

CLL Diagnosis Preceded by Decades of Increased Infection Susceptibility

By

Katarina Zimmer, MSci, MS

Infections often precede a formal diagnosis of CLL. Researchers found that antimicrobial use began to rise 6 years prior to CLL diagnosis.

Nelarabine for Newly Diagnosed T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

By

Vicki Moore, PhD

Young patients with newly diagnosed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed favorable outcomes with nelarabine added to a treatment regimen.

WT1 Correlates With Survival in Intermediate-, Poor-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Investigators aimed to determine the prognostic value of WT1 expression among patients with AML who were in earlier stages of treatment.

Prior History of SCC Could Be a Red Flag for Development of SCC in the Setting of CLL

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

In this study, a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed CLL was followed to identify the incidence of SCC skin cancer and its associated risk factors in this population.

Genetic Predisposition for Thromboembolism in Adolescent Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

As thromboembolism is a common side effect of ALL treatment, investigators assessed whether its occurrence in ALL and in the general adult population have a shared genetic basis.

Older Patients With Previously Untreated AML May Benefit from Azacitidine, Venetoclax

By

Rita Aghjayan

Even after treatment with hypomethylating agents, older patients with AML still lack positive prognoses but azacitidine with venetoclax shows promise.

Late Morbidity, Mortality Down for Survivors of Childhood ALL

Compared with 1970s, rate of subsequent malignant neoplasms lower with standard-risk 1990s-like therapy.

Relapse Reduction With Sorafenib in FLT3-ITD Acute Myeloid Leukemia Undergoing Allogeneic HSCT

By

Rita Aghjayan

Researchers assessed the efficacy and safety of sorafenib maintenance among patients with FLT3-ITD AML who underwent allogeneic HSCT.

Real-World Data Show Temporal Trends in Risk of Serious Bacterial Infections in Patients With CLL

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

These study findings show the risk and incidence of serious bacterial infection and its effect on mortality for patients with CLL.

Selinexor Produces Responses in HMA-Refractory MDS, Oligoblastic AML

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Selinexor yields responses in patients with MDS or oligoblastic AML refractory to hypomethylating agents, with manageable adverse events.

Incorporating Immunotherapy for Relapsed Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

By

Roxanne Nelson, RN, BSN

Immunotherapy is changing the treatment paradigm for pediatric patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Risk-Stratified Therapy Reduces Late Morbidity, Mortality in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

By

Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

The implementation of risk-stratified therapy appears to have reduced late morbidity and mortality among survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Venetoclax With Chemotherapy: Promising for Elderly Patients With AML?

By

Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

Combined with chemotherapy, venetoclax appears to be effective for treating AML among fit elderly patients.

Survivors of Adolescent, Young Adult ALL May Suffer Late Effects

Estimated 10-year cumulative incidence high for subsequent endocrine disease, cardiac disease.

Identifying Risk Factors for Invasive Fungal Infection in Ibrutinib-Treated CLL Patients

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

Ibrutinib-mediated macrophage inhibition may underlie an increased risk of invasive fungal infection in patients with CLL treated with this agent.

MPN Genomic Calculator Performs Well in Real-Life Cohort of Patients With Essential Thrombocythemia

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

The MPN Genomic Calculator uses clinical, laboratory, and genomic characteristics of patients with MPN to estimate their clinical outcomes.

Sorafenib Maintenance Therapy After Allo-HSCT Improves Outcomes in FLT3-ITD–Positive AML

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Among patients with FLT3-internal tandem repeats, sorafenib maintenance therapy reduces the risk of relapse and death after allo-HSCT.

Genetic Prognostic Factors in CLL Treated With Novel Compounds

By

Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

Obinutuzumab plus venetoclax was associated with improved outcomes compared with obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil, regardless of the presence of unfavorable genetic prognostic factors.

Dental Screenings Prior to Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By

Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers found that identifying and treating acute odontogenic disease before induction chemotherapy prevented infectious dental emergencies in AML patients.

Allogeneic-HSCT Outcomes With Varied Donor Sources in Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

By

Vicki Moore, PhD

Researchers studied the pros and cons of transplantation from different donor sources to enhance overall outcomes of allo-HSCT in adults with T-cell malignancies.

AEs From Ibrutinib in Real-World CLL: More Research Needed

By

Leah Lawrence

Some tyrosine kinase inhibitors may cause a hyperinflammatory response.

Risk-Adapted Therapy Prevents Fungal Infections in Childhood Leukemia

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Risk-adapted therapy effectively prevents fungal infections and reduces neurotoxicity in children with leukemia.

Subset of Patients With Richter Syndrome May Obtain Long-Term Survival

By

Leah Lawrence

Data from Spain add to the knowledge of Richter syndrome.

Ofatumumab Plus Hyper-CVAD for Newly Diagnosed (Ph)-Negative, CD20-Positive B-Cell ALL

By

Vicki Moore, PhD

Combined ofatumumab and hyper-CVAD is a safe and active treatment for adult patients with (Ph)-negative, CD20-positive B-cell ALL.

Changes in Management of CLL Due to COVID-19 Noted in Italy

By

Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

The management of CLL, including delays in work-up and treatment, and modifications to clinical trials, have been implemented across Italy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trial Evaluating Pracinostat in AML Patients Unfit for Intensive Chemotherapy Discontinued

By

Brian Park, PharmD

Helsinn and MEI Pharma have discontinued a phase 3 study evaluating pracinostat, in combination with azacitidine, for frontline treatment of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

AML: Adding Venetoclax to LDAC May Improve Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Patients

By

Jonathan Goodman, MPhil

At primary analysis, 40% of patients assigned to the venetoclax arm vs 31% of those assigned to placebo were alive.

Treating Strategies for Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By

Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC

Although numerous clinical studies have aimed to treat AML, most results ⁠have been disappointing, according to authors of a publication in Blood.

Treatment, Remaining Needs Pertaining to Acute Myeloid Leukemia

By

Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC

The current state of AML treatment and remaining needs are discussed in an interview with Courtney D. DiNardo, MD, MSCE and Ghayas C. Issa, MD.

Good Diet May Cut Toxicity Risk in Treatment of Pediatric ALL

Greater intake of foods rich in antioxidants tied to lower rates of infection, mucositis during treatment.

Study Finds Higher Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation With Ibrutinib Therapy

By

Christina Bennett, MS

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who are treated with ibrutinib may have a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation than previously thought.

Benefit From CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy in Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell ALL

By

Lauren Dembeck, PhD

Patients with B-cell ALL who are treated with CAR T-cell therapy and allo-HSCT may have better outcomes than those treated only with CAR T-cell therapy.

Immunoglobulin Assessment For Stratifying Prognosis, Target Therapy in AML

By

Rita Aghjayan

For patients with AML, high immunoglobulin expression is linked to monocytic differentiation, dysplasia, and poorer prognosis.

Loss of Limb Mobility in a Patient With T-ALL Treated With Nelarabine

By

Rick Maffei

In this patient case, significant neurological adverse effects associated with nelarabine were noted at 30 days following initiation of therapy.

Disease-Free Survival Not Improved With Intrathecal Triple Therapy in B-Cell ALL

By

Rita Aghjayan

A study compared the effects of intrathecal triple therapy to intrathecal methotrexate on disease-free survival among patients with B-ALL.

Mylotarg Indication Expanded to Include Newly-Diagnosed Pediatric AML

By

Brian Park, PharmD

The FDA has expanded the approval of Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin; Pfizer) to include treatment of patients aged 1 month and older with newly-diagnosed CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia.

FLT3-ITD With an Insertion Site in the Beta1-Sheet Prognostic for Poor Outcomes in AML

By

Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

Among adult patients with newly diagnosed AML, the presence of an FLT3-ITD mutation with an insertion site in the beta1-sheet was associated shorter survival.

Chemotherapy-Free Regimen Consisting of 3 Novel Agents for Previously Untreated, Poor Prognosis CLL

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

In this study, obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, and venoclax were administered as first-line therapy in patients with CLL characterized by del(17p) and/or TP53 mutation.

Addition of Venetoclax to Azacitidine Associated With Clinically Significant OS Benefit in AML

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

The addition of venetoclax to azacitidine was associated with a 34% reduction in risk of death.

Venetoclax Plus Low-Dose Cytarabine Improved OS in Untreated AML Ineligible for Intense Chemotherapy

By

Andrea S. Blevins Primeau, PhD, MBA

In an updated analysis, venetoclax plus low-dose cytarabine improved OS compared with placebo among patients with untreated AML who were ineligible for intense chemotherapy.