J. Blokken PhD, PharmD

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia for the haematologist

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemias (AIHAs) are rare and heterogeneous disorders characterised by the destruction of red blood cells through warm or cold antibodies. During a special lecture during the 2022 BHS GAM, Prof. Marc Michel (Henri-Mondor University Hospital, Paris-Est Créteil, France) gave an overview of the diagnostic and treatment landscape for AIHA anno 2022. The incidence of AIHA runs from 1.8-2.4/100,000 individuals each year, with an increasing incidence in the last decade. The median age at onset for patients with warm AIHA (wAIHA) is 58 years, while cold agglutinin disease (CAD) mainly effects older patients (median age at onset of 67 years). AIHA patients are at a high risk of mortality and thrombosis.¹

Pierre Stryckmans Memorial Lecture: AML diagnosis and treatment

The annual Pierre Stryckmans Memorial Lecture at this years’ BHS-GAM was presented by Prof. Dr. Bob Löwenberg (Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands), awarding him for his lifetime achievements in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Historically, intensive treatment for AML consists of induction chemotherapy, followed by post-remission consolidation therapy with chemotherapy and an autologous (auto-SCT) or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) to eradicate potential residual cells.¹ In order to improve on the treatment outcomes that can be achieved today, we need a deeper understanding of the molecular diversity of the disease and its functional consequences. Furthermore, we should aim for a further personalization of the treatment, tailored to the individual patient.

Advance care planning and specialist palliative care integration in haematology

Although palliative care is often associated with end-of-life and death, its concept is much broader than that and should focus on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of any serious illness. In the Ethics session of the 2022 BHS GAM meeting, Prof. Dr. Thomas LeBlanc (Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA) discussed the unmet needs regarding advance care planning and specialist palliative care integration in haematology. In addition, he shared the results of a randomised trial of integrated palliative and oncology care for patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, demonstrating significant advances of palliative care for patients.

Highlights on novel cellular therapies

In a first presentation of the BHS-GAM 2022 session dedicated to novel cellular therapies, Dr. Sophie Servais (CHU Liège, Belgium) shared the results of the first Belgian real-world experience of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells in patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Next Prof. Dr. Barbara De Moerloose (University Hospital Ghent, Belgium) shared her personal experience with tisagenlecleucel in the treatment of paediatric and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). In a final presentation, Prof. Dr. Daan Dierickx (University Hospital Leuven, Belgium) discussed the potential of redirecting T-cells against the Epstein–Barr virus, mainly in patients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease.

Highlights in aggressive and indolent Lymphoma

SUMMARY

During the 63^rd annual meeting of ASH, again hundreds of interesting oral abstracts and poster presentations in the field of aggressive and indolent lymphoma were discussed. In this article, we will highlight some of the most promising data in the field of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, classic Hodgkin lymphoma, enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(1):29-36)

Congress highlights ISHL12

SUMMARY

The 12^th International Symposium on Hodgkin Lymphoma (ISHL12) took place as a hybrid conference in Cologne, Germany, from October 22 to 24, 2022. During the conference, ISHL12 provided a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in biology, clinical research, diagnostics and treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma. The main focus was on older and frail patients as well as on patients with early stage disease. Several workshops, interactive case discussions and satellite symposia complemented the program.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(8):328–32)

BCMA targeting in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

Over the past decade, significant progress was made in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Nevertheless, research efforts continue in an attempt to develop treatment options with novel mechanisms of action that have higher efficacy, can evade resistance to prior lines of treatment and are well tolerated. As the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is preferentially expressed by mature B-lymphocytes and is overexpressed in MM patients, it provides an interesting therapeutic target in MM. Thus far, three treatment modalities have been developed for BCMA targeting; bispecific antibody constructs, antibody-drug conjugates and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, each with its own advantages and challenges. This review provides an overview of the (preliminary) clinical data that were generated with these different treatment modalities.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(8):387-97)