CONGRESS HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma

SUMMARY

This article will give an overview of the key studies in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) that were presented at the 2022 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. In CLL, topics mainly focused on the combination of novel agents and there are new data from head-to-head comparison of different Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (BTKi). In follicular lymphoma, bispecific T-cell engagers continue to make their introduction in the therapeutic landscape, whereas CAR-T cells are showing durable responses.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2023;14(1):16–8)

Highlights in myeloproliferative neoplasms

SUMMARY

With the identification of novel therapeutic targets in different MPN and the movement of second-/third-line treatment upfront, the MPN therapeutic landscape is continuously changing. For Ph+ CML, additional genetic mutations are probably going to change our currently known risk stratification and determine choice of front-line treatment. In Ph- MPN, focus is on molecular response and disease modification and scientific evidence that this might actually have beneficial effect on patient outcome is gradually being gathered.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2023;14(1):10–5)

Highlights in aggressive lymphoma

SUMMARY

Many patients with an aggressive lymphoma will be cured with frontline therapy. However, relapsed patients cannot always be cured and die as a result of their disease. Fortunately, many trials in frontline and relapsed setting address the medical need of patients with a high risk of inferior survival. Especially immunotherapies have shown promising results and some of these therapies have already become standard of care, or will be in the near future. This paper provides a summary of the most interesting clinical trials in aggressive lymphoma, presented at the 2022 ASH meeting.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2023;14(1):4–9)

Highlights in lymphoma

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):210–3)

Highlights in chronic myeloid leukaemia

SUMMARY

The treatment landscape of chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase (CP-CML) is continuously changing. During the annual congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2022), new strategies to improve the management of CP-CML were presented. These novel strategies include new drugs, alternative treatment strategies to reduce toxicity without affecting efficacy, and new techniques to help identify the best patient subpopulation for treatment-free remission. The highlights of these new strategies are addressed in this article.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):183–7)

Highlights in AML and MDS

SUMMARY

Very important changes in the field of AML and MDS have been presented at the meeting and have very recently been published in top journals. First of all, the new M-IPSS integrating molecular analysis in a prognostic score for MDS was discussed by Elli Papaemmanuil and published by Elsa Bernard in June 2022 in NEJM Evid.¹ Secondly, the fifth edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours: Myeloid and Histiocytic/Dendritic Neoplasms was published by J. Khoury.² It introduced new entities in MDS and AML. Finally, the updated ELN (European Leukemia Net) guidelines for diagnosis and management of AML were published in Blood in July 2022 by Hartmut Döhner.³ The impact of these three 2022 publications on the management of MDS and AML cannot be overestimated. They are not part of this report but we strongly recommend reading these papers as a background. This report is focussing on the abstracts with potential clinical impact on the treatment of AML or MDS.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):190–9)

Highlights in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

SUMMARY

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a rapidly progressing field in haemato-oncology. The EHA 2022 meeting again provided an update on major clinical trials, the prognostic impact of TP53 mutation in the era of BCL2inh, new insights into the role of marrow microenvironment in the course of the disease, new approaches to Richter’ syndrome and many new promising drugs. The oral presentations about this topic, with practical importance for the clinicians, are covered in this article.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2022;13(5):200–6)