CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights in acute myeloid leukaemia

SUMMARY

The 2023 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) again featured some interesting studies related to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). In newly diagnosed patients, the FLT3 inhibitor quizartinib and the combination of ivosidenib and a hypomethylating agent (HMA) yielded promising results in patients harbouring a FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) or IDH1 mutation, respectively. Additionally, the nuclear export inhibitor selinexor, combined with azacitidine and venetoclax (SAV), resulted in encouraging responses in unfit AML patients. In the relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting, the menin inhibitor revumenib and CD33 CART cells emerged as promising regimens for paediatric and adult patients with KMT2A rearranged AML. Finally, vaccination using host-derived leukaemia cells and donor-derived dendritic cells represents a promising strategy to reduce the relapse risk for AML patients following an allogeneic transplant.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(1):22–6)

Myelofibrosis and new drugs

Myelofibrosis (MF) management poses a significant challenge, with allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) standing as the sole curative option, yet only viable for 15% of patients. During the 2024 General Annual Meeting of the Belgian Hematology Society, Prof. Timothy Devos (UZ Leuven, Belgium) offered an insightful overview of both current treatments and promising future therapeutic strategies for managing MF.

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes

SUMMARY

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), also known as myelodysplastic neoplasms, are clonal myeloid disorders characterised by ineffective clonal haematopoiesis leading to peripheral blood cytopenia and a variable risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukaemia. Even if hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains the only curative option, most patients with MDS are ineligible to this procedure because of age or comorbidities. In lower-risk MDS, the main approach still aims at improving cytopenia, mainly anaemia. In higher-risk MDS, hypomethylating agents represent the standard-of-care, but are not curative. This article summarised recent developments in this disease.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(1):27–30)

Highlights in indolent lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

SUMMARY

Several abstracts highlighted the efficacy of bispecific antibodies (BITEs) in the treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL), with interesting preliminary results in first line of treatment, both as monotherapy and combined with other agents. In the relapse/refractory (R/R) setting, robust and durable efficacy was shown for CAR-T particularly in the 3-year follow-up update of the ELARA trial. In first line CLL, an MRD-driven approach seems feasible and beneficial according to the results of the FLAIR trial. The update of the GLOW and the GAIA trials disclosed important information to identify the ideal molecular subgroup for each treatment combination. Finally, in the R/R setting, encouraging data from the use of non-covalent BTK inhibitor (ncBTKi) pirtobrutinib and CAR-T product lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) even in the poor prognosis group of patients exposed to both a covalent BTKi (cBTKi) and a BCL2 inhibitor (BCL2i).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(1):18–21)

Highlights in aggressive lymphoma

SUMMARY

Although many patients with aggressive lymphoma can be cured with standard frontline immunochemotherapies, the rate of relapse and death remains high, particularly in high-risk disease. In recent years, the emergence of new immunotherapies and targeted therapies has improved the prognosis of these patients, but many challenges persist to enhance the management of aggressive lymphomas. This report provides a summary of the most interesting presentations in the field of aggressive lymphoma at ASH 2023.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(1):13–17)

Highlights in myeloproliferative neoplasms

SUMMARY

Once again, this year, the ASH Congress provided a wealth of information on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In the field of classical Phi-negative MPNs, studies that could potentially influence our practice in the short and medium terms, with a focus on molecular responses and disease modification were selected. In the field of chronic myeloid leukaemia, studies providing additional information on Asciminib as well as strategies to improve the TFR rate in patients were selected. Finally, a study with promising results in the field of MDS/MDN overlap syndromes and chronic neutrophilic leukaemia was included.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(1):9–12)

Highlights in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

Once again, in San Diego, the ASH meeting served as a pivotal platform for unveiling crucial updates in multiple myeloma (MM). Among the noteworthy highlights were advancements in various new therapeutic approaches, including bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), CAR-T cell therapy, new insights in the treatment of smoldering MM as well as newly diagnosed MM (NDMM), and finally emerging new treatments.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2024;15(1):4–8)