CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

Now that the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies have shown their potency and usefulness, it seems that EHA 2017 gave us the opportunity to direct our gaze towards the other novel players emerging in the therapeutic field of multiple myeloma (MM). As such, the aim of this article is to focus on some of the earlier phase trials, revealing interesting results concerning potentially potent therapeutic and supportive strategies.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):133–6)

Novelties in the treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma

SUMMARY

Practice changing novelties in the treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) were scarce at EHA 2017. This summary will discuss three abstracts presented during an oral session dedicated to clinical findings in Hodgkin (HL) and indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (iNHL).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):141–3)

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes

SUMMARY

The past years enormous progress has been made in the understanding of the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).¹ The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) has revealed that about 90% of patients with MDS harbor mutations in pathways such as spliceosome machinery, in epigenetic regulators and other genes previously unknown to be involved in MDS. At this year’s conference, the focus was on these mutations. There have been no major breakthroughs on the therapeutic side.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):146–8)

Highlights in chronic myeloid leukemia

SUMMARY

Treatment discontinuation has become a central issue in studies with BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The oral session on clinical trials in CML featured two studies on treatment discontinuation: one assessing initial reduction before complete TKI withdrawal and a second study evaluating the impact of minimal residual disease (MRD) on the outcome of imatinib discontinuation. In addition to this, a study was presented with long-term data on 400mg imatinib as first-line treatment for CML together with a study assessing frontline bosutinib. Finally, a last abstract in this session evaluated the second-generation BCR-ABL TKI dasatinib in children and adolescents with CML.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):151–4)

Highlights in indolent non-hodgkin lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

SUMMARY

As usual, June was a very busy month for lymphoma specialists, with back to back, international meetings. This report will summarize some key data related to non-hodgkin lymphoma, presented during 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). We would like to acknowledge Prof Ann Janssens (University Hospital Leuven) for her help in selecting the abstracts presented here.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):158–64)

Highlights in thrombosis and inherited platelet disorders

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):166–7)

Highlights in acute myeloid leukemia

SUMMARY

With the unraveling of the molecular basis of AML last year, new treatment options have arisen and new insights were established concerning disease response to therapy, its impact on prognosis and its relevance for post-remission treatment decisions.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(4):171–5)