T. Feys MBA, MSc

Highlights in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains a devastating disease, even in the era of novel agents. As such, the search for new treatment modalities in both the induction and maintenance setting, to manage newly diagnosed MM ever continues. In recent years, the treatment landscape of patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) has also changed dramatically following a long list of positive phase III trials. This overview will give an update of pivotal trials in this setting (IKEMA, OPTIMISMM, CANDOR, BELLINI) as well as discusses some new emerging therapies in the field, including CAR T cell therapy, a B-cell maturation antigen T-cell engager and a novel cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD) agent.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(5):203-8)

Journal Scan

SUMMARY

In this section of the BJH, we aim to provide a snapshot of pivotal studies published in recent issues of the most important international journals focusing on haematology. Importantly, the selection of the studies discussed here is the sole responsibility of the publisher and was not influenced by third parties. Do you miss an important study, or did you read a hidden jewel that deserves to be shared with your colleagues? Please, let us know (editor@bjh.be) and we will make sure to include it in the journal scan section of the next BJH issue.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(4):190–3)

The 35^th general annual meeting of the Belgian Hematology Society

SUMMARY

On the 14^th and 15^th of February 2020, the Belgian Hematology Society hosted their 35^th annual meeting in La Hulpe, Brussels. This year’s meeting featured scientific parallel sessions organised by the Belgian Society for Advancement of Cytometry (BSAC), the Belgian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (BSTH), MolecularDiagnostics.be (MD.be) as well as a nurse symposium. In this article, we will highlight the scientific sessions presented during the BHS meeting.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(3):136–41)

New haematology reimbursements in Belgium

OVERVIEW OF BELGIAN REIMBURSEMENT NEWS

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(3):142–3)

Journal Scan

The goal of this new section in the BJH is to provide a snapshot of pivotal studies published in recent issues of the most important international journals focusing on haematology. Importantly, the selection of the studies discussed here is the sole responsibility of the publisher and was not influenced by third parties. Do you miss an important study, or did you read a hidden jewel that deserves to be shared with your colleagues? Please, let us know (editor@bjh.be) and we will make sure to include it in the journal scan section of the next BJH issue.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(2):79–81)

New haematology reimbursements in Belgium

OVERVIEW OF BELGIAN REIMBURSEMENT NEWS

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(2):82)

Highlights in chronic myeloid leukaemia

Summary

ASH 2019 did not feature ground-breaking results in the field of CML. Nevertheless, some interesting abstracts deserve to be discussed. This includes a study looking at the potential of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) in monitoring responses in patients treated with a BCR-ABL1 TKI. As in previous years, many abstracts in CML focused on the concept of treatment discontinuation and treatment-free remission (TFR). In this overview, one study will be discussed looking at TFR in children, while another abstract describes a predictive score for TFR. A final TFR abstract concerns a long-term follow-up analysis of patients who discontinued TKI therapy in a French institution. With respect to therapeutic advances, two phase III trials looked into the potential of adding pegylated interferon to nilotinib in the frontline treatment of CML, while a third abstract discusses the results of a phase I trial in which a new third-generation TKI (HQP1351) was evaluated in patients with relapsed/refractory CML.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(1):13–7)