A. Bosly MD, PhD

Best of ASH 2014: Plenary session

Once more, the plenary session of the American Society of Hematology held in the San Francisco Moscone Centre on December 7^th, was of the highest level of quality.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2015;6(1):40–2)

P2.03 Belgian Stop IMatinib trial

Treatment of mantle cell lymphomas: recommendations of the Belgian Hematological Society

Summary

Mantle cell lymphoma was recognised in the nineties and is characterised by the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation which results in overexpression of cyclin D1.¹ This disease represents approximately 6% of all non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Mantle cell lymphoma generally affects patients over 60 years-old. Most patients have advanced disease (>70 % Ann Arbor stage IV). Several efforts have been made to predict outcome in mantle cell lymphoma. The cell-proliferation marker Ki-67, the Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and minimal residual disease are prognostic tools. For young patients, chemoimmunotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice. For the main group of older patients, chemo-immunotherapy followed by maintenance with rituximab is the gold standard. In relapses, temsirolimus is actually registered and new drugs, such as ibrutinib, are currently evaluated with promising preliminary results.^2–5

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(3):89–96)

Highlights of ASH 2013 on Lymphoma

Many important advances in the knowledge and treatment of lymphoma were presented in New Orleans during the 2013 ASH meeting.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(1):31–32)

O.1 ABVD (8 cycles) vs. BEACOPP (4 escalated cycles => 4 baseline) in stage III – IV low risk Hodgkin Lymphoma (IPS 0–2): final results of LYSA H34 trial

P2.14 Cost-utility of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFS) for primary prophylaxis (PP) of chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia (FN) in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients (NHL) in Belgium

Primary immune thrombocytopenia in adults

Summary

The Belgian Hematological Society (BHS) guideline panel on adult primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) reviewed the recent literature on diagnosis and treatment to make recommendations on the best strategies for frontline and subsequent-line treatment. No treatment is necessary for patients with platelet counts higher than 30000/μl in the absence of bleeding symptoms. Patients newly diagnosed or relapsing after a long-term treatment-free period can be managed with corticosteroids with or without intravenous immunoglobulins. A second line therapy is indicated for those patients who are intolerant or unresponsive to or relapse after initial corticosteroid treatment and have a risk of bleeding. The guideline panel recommends splenectomy as it is the treatment with the highest curative potential and an acceptable safety profile. If possible, splenectomy should be delayed to at least twelve months after diagnosis as spontaneous remission can occur in this time period. Thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) agonists are recommended for patients who are refractory to or relapse after splenectomy or who have a contra-indication to splenectomy irrespective of the duration of ITP. The guideline panel agrees that rituximab, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine A, danazol, dapsone, mycophenolate mofetil and vincristine/vinblastine are potential treatment options, especially for patients refractory to TPO-R agonists.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2013;1:11–20)