CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlight 2: Lymphoma in 2025

During the 2025 BHS General Annual Meeting (GAM), the highlights session on lymphoma provided key insights into evolving management strategies for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Dr. Catherine Thieblemont (Hôpital Saint-Louis Paris, France) presented an in-depth overview of the latest approaches in DLBCL treatment. Consequently, Dr. Vibeke Vergote (UZ Leuven, Belgium) shared her perspective on the contemporary management of MCL, incorporating recent clinical trial data and emerging therapeutic options. Their discussions underscored the rapid advancements in lymphoma treatment and the shifting paradigms that are shaping patient care in 2025.

Highlights in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

At the ASH 2024 meeting in San Diego, there were over 200 oral presentations and more than 700 posters about multiple myeloma (MM). In contrast to the most recent ASH meetings were the major focus was on relapsed and refractory MM and more particularly on the newest data of the new generation of T-cell redirecting therapies like CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies (BsAb), the oral sessions of the current ASH edition were more focused on newly diagnosed (ND) MM patients and on the growing importance of minimal residual disease (MRD). This paper summarises some of the MM ‘highlights’. Since this paper is not intended to give a comprehensive summary of the several hundreds of papers, I would like to acknowledge all clinicians and researchers who have contributed abstracts to this ASH congress and in particular our Belgian colleagues.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2025;16(1):4–6)

Highlights in indolent lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

SUMMARY

In this edition, we received significant updates regarding the first-line chemo-free management of follicular lymphoma (FL) and Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM). For the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) FL, new data on the use of combinations involving novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and bispecific antibodies (BITEs) aim to reshape the current therapeutic landscape. These approaches challenge the widely used combination of rituximab and lenalidomide, as proposed in the AUGMENT trial, which remains a prominent option in this setting.¹ Additionally, long-term follow-up data on the use of CAR-T in FL seem to support their curative potential, even in the setting of indolent lymphomas. In first-line CLL, new combinations of checkpoint inhibitors, covalent (cBTKi) and non-covalent BTK inhibitors (ncBTKi) with venetoclax and obinutuzumab show impressive efficacy and disease control. For R/R CLL, significant updates on the use of BITEs and BTK degraders highlight promising new therapeutic options, particularly addressing the unmet needs in managing double-refractory patients (cBTKi and BCL-2 inhibitors). Finally, the TRANSCEND CLL 004 trial presented impressive efficacy and safety results with the combination of CAR-T and cBTKi.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2025;16(1):7–11)

Highlights in myeloproliferative neoplasm

SUMMARY

The main conclusions derived from the ASH annual meeting in San Diego, CA, last year regarding myeloproliferative neoplasms are:

• Single and multi-hit TP53 mutations need to be included in the risk stratification of MPN. Multi-hit TP53 MPN belong in the ICC category of “myeloid neoplasms with mutated TP53” and need to be considered as a hematologic emergency.
• Timing of HSCT in MF depends of the disease risk category; MTSS risk score, presence of TP53 mutation and response to ruxolitinib.
• Promising new treatments beyond JAKi for MF are the MDM2 inhibitor navtemadlin, the PIM1 kinase inhibitor nuvisertib, and cellular therapy with Tregs.
• In advanced systemic mastocytosis, OS is superior in TKI treated patient. MARS-R is a novel risk score specifically looking at OS and leukaemia free survival in TKI treated patients.
• Asciminib front-line treatment for CP-CML is superior to first- and second-line TKI in both efficacy and safety/tolerability.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2025;16(1):12–8)

Highlights in acute myeloid leukaemia

SUMMARY

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), while relatively rare, is the most common form of acute leukaemia in adults and results in a poor 5-year overall survival (OS).¹ Therefore, new effective treatments are highly sought after. In this article, some of the highlights of AML presented at the ASH 2024 meeting are discussed.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2025;16(1):19–22)

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes

SUMMARY

What are the challenges the MDS community faces in 2025? Progress has been made in understanding the biology, genetics and pathogenesis of MDS. Prognostication and treatment strategies have been improved, but not satisfactorily. However, so far, many questions remain unanswered.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2025;16(1):23–8)

Highlights in red blood cell disorders

SUMMARY

Recent studies highlight the benefits of hydroxyurea in Hb SC disease, showing reductions in VOCs and improvements associated with induced iron deficiency. Pyruvate kinase activators demonstrate strong efficacy in SCD and thalassemia at both clinical and biological levels. Gene therapy offers sustained and impressive benefits, though further research is needed to evaluate long-term safety and complications beyond VOC reduction.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2025;16(1):29–30)