BJH - volume 8, issue 1, february 2017
T. Devos MD, PhD
The presentations on myeloproliferative neoplasms at this year’s ASH congress were inspiring and innovative. As expected, the main topic in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was treatment-free remission (TFR). About 30 oral or poster abstracts on this topic were presented during ASH 2016. An update of the important EURO-SKI trial and new results were presented: TFR-studies after treatment with 1st and 2nd generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), as well as TFR-studies after both first and second attempts of TKI-discontinuation. While stopping TKI-treatment is considered in CML, starting new treatments and when to start was the main topic regarding the BCR-ABL negative MPNs polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and myelofibrosis (MF). A wide panoply of MPN-related topics has been presented at San Diego: late-breaking results of the second-generation JAK-inhibitor pacritinib in MF, interferon-trials in PV and ET, long-term treatment data of the JAK-TKI momelotinib and ruxolitinib, new molecules and novel molecular data, and finally, a special focus on quality of life (QOL). QOL has been a major topic in CML/MPN since several years. In this paper, some key abstracts on CML and MPN, presented at ASH 2016, are selected and commented. I’m aware that this selection excludes many other abstracts, not reducing their intrinsic value. The aim is to present a broad and representative spectrum of studies on each topic. At the end of the article, some ‘take-home messages’ will be given.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(1):16–22)
Read moreBJH - volume 8, issue 1, february 2017
A. Janssens MD, PhD
Immunochemotherapy induction followed by maintenance with rituximab (R) is the standard of care (SoC) for patiens (pts) with advanced-stage symptomatic follicular lymphoma (FL), achieving a median progression free survival (PFS) of 6–8 years (yrs) and a median survival (OS) of 12–15 yrs. However, FL is incurable and most pts eventually relapse. Relapse occurs in 30% of pts within 3 yrs, and is associated with a poor prognosis. Obinutuzumab (G) is a glycoengineered type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody with enhanced direct cell killing and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Promising activity and manageable toxicity when combined with chemotherapy has already been shown in treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (G-chlorambucil (Chl)) and in R-refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL). We waited eagerly for the results of GALLIUM, the phase 3 trial which compared G-chemo to R-chemo in advanced, untreated FL. Treatment options for pts with refractory iNHL are limited. Last year, the phase 3 GADOLIN trial, comparing the efficacy and safety of G-bendamustine (B) induction, followed by G maintenance (G-B arm), with B induction (standard in R-refractory iNHL pts), already showed a gain in PFS and time to next treatment (TTNT) for the G-B arm. At this years ASH meeting we learned whether longer follow-up would also show a survival benefit. In previous yrs 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, which led to the approval of these agents for the treatment of CLL. This led to a shift from intravenous chemotherapies, given for a finite number of cycles, to oral therapies given continuously until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. Follow-up of these trials is necessary to evaluate long-term efficacy in pts with different prognostic factors and long-term safety.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(1):23–8)
Read moreBJH - volume 8, issue 1, february 2017
C. Graux MD, PhD
The decision making process in AML integrates clinical features, an increasing amount of genetic information and minimal residual disease (MRD) data. Combining these data aims at answering the following questions:
Each new edition of ASH brings some new answers. This was again the case at the 2016 annual ASH meeting.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(1):29–33)
Read moreBJH - volume 8, issue 1, february 2017
D. Selleslag MD
This ASH 2016 report will focus on the diagnostic and prognostic utility of molecular abnormalities and on new treatment modalities in MDS. We selected 7 abstracts dealing with these topics.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(1):34–7)
Read moreBJH - volume 8, issue 1, february 2017
A. Bosly MD, PhD
The plenary session during the 2016 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology featured six presentation covering different aspects of hematology. These abstracts discussed important innovations in the management of sickle cell disease, follicular lymphoma, hemophilia and ALL. In addition to this two abstracts addressed issues related to hematopoiesis.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2017;8(1):38–40)
Read moreBJH - volume 7, issue 5, october 2016
T. Feys MBA, MSc
From June 3rd till June 6th, Chicago again formed the background for the biggest cancer congress in the world. Notwithstanding the fact that solid tumours remain the main focus of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the meeting program also included some interesting lectures on haematological malignancies. The aim of this report is not to discuss all these studies, but will address some of the key presentations on haematological cancer from ASCO 2016. For a more complete overview we would like to refer to the congress website, where all abstracts and a plethora of webcasts can be found.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2016;7(5):203–6)
Read moreBJH - volume 7, issue 4, september 2016
M. Delforge MD, PhD
Multiple myeloma (MM) is one of the haematological malignancies with the fastest therapeutic development. Consequently, interesting new data on both preclinical and clinical progress in MM were presented at the 2016 EHA meeting in Copenhagen. We have selected four clinical and one preclinical abstract for discussion in this paper. The choice is based on the importance of the presentations and the impact their results will have on the future treatment landscape in MM.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2016;7(4):130–3)
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