CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights in hemostasis

SUMMARY

This article will briefly summarize the key data presented at ASH 2017 related to hemostasis. In total, seven abstracts will be discussed.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(1):19–21)

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

SUMMARY

In previous years, the outcome of multiple phase 2 and 3 trials with oral B-cell receptor (BCR)-inhibitors in treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory (R/R) CLL were reported. This led to the approval of these agents in the treatment of CLL. The latter resulted in a shift from intravenous chemotherapies, given for a fixed period of time to oral therapies that need to be given continuously, until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. Follow-up studies with these BTK inhibitors, combined with chemo-immunotherapy (CIT), with a monoclonal antibody or with the new Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax were presented during the 2017 annual meeting of the American Society of Hemtology (ASH). Some key messages are summarized below.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(1):22–5)

Highlights in acute leukemia

There has been a long period of time without any new acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatments. However, the tide has turned and data presented at ASH 2017 confirm that there are several promising therapies on the horizon. In fact, the FDA recently approved the FLT3 inhibitor midostaurin, the IDH2 inhibitor enasidenib and CPX-351 (liposomal daunorubicin and cytarabine) in the treatment of AML. In addition to this, promising data were presented with CAR T-cell therapy and (bispecific) antibodies, with the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax and many more. In addition to this, results of a HOVON trial were presented demonstrating clinical benefit of azacitidine maintenance therapy in older AML patients and refractory anemia with excess of blasts. ASH 2017 also featured the presentation of several studies assessing the role of MRD in the setting of AML. With respect to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most notable presentations included the results of the GIMEMA LAL1811 study evaluating the combination of steroids and ponatinib as frontline therapy in elderly, or unfit Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) ALL and the results of a study assessing the combination of bosutinib with inotuzumab ozogamicin in patients with relapsed/refractory Ph+ ALL or CML in lymphoid blast phase. In addition to this, Rambaldi et al. presented the overall survival (OS) data for adult patients with relapsed/refractory B-precursor ALL (B-ALL) who were treated with maintenance blinatumomab. We would like to acknowledge Dr. Dimitri Breems (department of hematology, ZNA Stuivenberg, Antwerp) for his help in selecting the abstracts for this summary.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(1):28–37)

Highlights in Transplantation

SUMMARY

When considering a stem cell transplantation for a patient, many factors come in to play, especially in case of an allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo SCT). The best donor and source of stem cells should be selected, the type of conditioning must be considered and the type of underlying disease and disease status at transplant also have an impact on the outcome of the transplantation. Additionally, survival post-transplant is influenced by the occurrence of graft versus host disease (GVHD), infections, or relapsed disease. Advances in different areas of allo SCT reported at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) will be discussed in this summary.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(1):41–3)

Highlights in lymphoproliferative disorders from the French Society of Hematology congress (Paris, 15-17 March 2017)

SUMMARY

Some highlights of the 2017 French Society of Hematology meeting are summarised. The T-cell lymphoma most frequent, angioimmunoblastic lymphoma is now recognised as derived from follicular helper T-cells. No major advancement in the treatment of T-cell lymphoma has been obtained. However many new drugs are promising, especially Brentuximab Vedotin for CD30 lymphoma. Two publications were presented as favourites (coup de cœur): phase III in primary CNS lymphoma and long term results of CLL8 trial. Two major publications from the LYSA group were reported: the Lyma trial in MCL demonstrated efficacy of rituximab maintenance and the Remarc trial showed efficacy of lenalidomide after R-CHOP in DLBCL to prolong DFS.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(5):201–2)

Highlights from the 2017 annual meeting of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (Berlin, 8-13 July 2017)

SUMMARY

From July 8–13, Berlin formed the background for the 2017 annual meeting of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. During the congress, thousands of the world’s leading experts on thrombosis, haemostasis and vascular biology came together to present the most recent advances, exchange the latest science and discuss the newest clinical applications designed to improve patient care. In this summary, some of the key studies presented at the meeting will be discussed. For a more complete coverage of the meeting, we happily refer to the congress website: www.isth2017.org.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(5):203–7)

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

SUMMARY

This report will summarize useful clinical updates for the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) presented during the biannual International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (iwCLL, New York, May 12–15 2017), the 2017 International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML; Lugano June 14–17) and the 2017 annual meeting of the European Hematology Association (EHA; Madrid June 22–25).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):129–32)