CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Summary

As new data on indolent non-hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) were not that compelling, only highlights on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) will be presented in the following summary. The recently published “updated BHS guidelines for the treatment of CLL, anno 2016”, incorporated obinutuzumab, ibrutinib and idelalisib. Results of multiple plase 3 trials were presented at ASH 2015 and will probably challenge the proposed guidelines in the near future.¹

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):3–8)

Highlights in chronic myeloid leukemia and myeloproliferative neoplasms

Summary

Major therapeutic progress has been accomplished in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) over the past 40 years. Therapeutic progress happened through better understanding of disease pathophysiologiy and rational development of targeted agents, like imatinib mesylate in CML. This report will discuss the key studies related to CML or MDS, presented during the 2015 annual ASH meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):9–13)

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes

Therapeutic options in MDS

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic malignancies characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias, due to ineffective erythropoiesis and a risk for progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Progress in this field aims to decrease the transfusion burden, delay progression to AML, improve the quality-of-life of patients and extend survival.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1): 20–4)

Highlights in acute leukemia

Summary

This report on the best ASH abstracts for acute leukemia will be divided into a section on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a second section on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):27–30)

Highlights related to plasma cell disorders

Summary

The field of multiple myeloma (MM) treatment and related plasma cell disorders is ever expanding. New drugs are introduced at a fast pace potentially making things complicated for the treating haematologist. Furthermore, the disease is very heterogeneous and no patient is alike. ASH offers professionals the annual opportunity to witness the joint efforts made by patients, basic scientists, clinicians and the pharmacological industry in fighting this disease. This text is but a small anthology on the most exciting clinical data on plasma cell disorders as presented at ASH 2015.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):34–8)

Highlights in aggressive lymphomas

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1): 42–4)

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation at ASH 2015

(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(1):48–52)