CONGRESS NEWS

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: New stuff at EHA 2018?

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(4):134–9)

Highlights in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

In recent years, the treatment landscape of patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) changed dramatically following a long list of positive phase III studies evaluating novel treatment combinations. During EHA 2018 several new positive studies were added to this list, further broadening the treatment armamentarium for RRMM. Following the successes in the RR setting, several of these novel agents are now also being explored in newly diagnosed MM (NDMM) patients. At EHA 2018, updated results were presented with the daratumumab-VMP combination in older NDMM patients. In addition, the role of VRD consolidation in NDMM was assessed and overall survival (OS) data of the GIMEMA-MMY-3006 study were presented. The key messages of these and other studies will be discussed in this summary.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(4):141–5)

Recent advances in the treatment of acute leukemia

SUMMARY

The treatment modalities in the field of acute leukemia have seen spectacular changes in recent years. The introduction of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells) and bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) dramatically improved the outcome of heavily pretreated patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). For the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), immunotherapy is more difficult to design, but also in this setting progress has been made. This text will describe recent advances in the field of acute leukemia presented at the latest EHA meeting.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(4):148–51)

Highlights in aggressive lymphoma

SUMMARY

EHA 2018 featured several eagerly awaited presentations on Hodgkin lymphoma. This included subgroup data of the ECHELON-1 trial in patients with high-risk features and data of a PET-based treatment de-escalation study. In non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the RELEVANCE study assessed the chemotherapy-free lenalidomide-rituximab combination as 1^st line treatment for follicular lymphoma. In diffuse-large-B-cell lymphoma, updates were presented of the key studies evaluating CAR T-cell therapy and polatuzumab vedotin was found to improve the survival in relapsed/refractory patients.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(4):152–6)

Highlights in myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms

SUMMARY

Novel therapeutic options for patients suffering from myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have not managed to climb the stage in recent years. However, clinical trials with new agents were ongoing under the radar. During the 2018 annual EHA meeting, new results were presented that may be inspiring for new clinical trials leading to drug approvals and the expansion of our therapeutic arsenal in this difficult-to-treat patient population. In addition to MDS, this overview will also address the key data on myeloproliferative diseases presented at EHA 2018.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(4):157–60)

Highlights in the field of red blood cell disorders

SUMMARY

Red blood cell pathologies were highlighted during the congress. In particular, the Topics-in-Focus program put the spotlight on haemoglobinopathies. As in oncology, these heterogeneous (very) rare diseases also benefit from new tools for their diagnosis and from new or evolving therapies. Gene therapy is probably the most exciting one as it represents a curative approach.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(4):161–3)

The best of ASH 2017

SUMMARY

The selection for this best of ASH article was based on the studies that were selected for presentation during the presidential symposium, the late breaking abstract session and the “best of ASH” session at the 2017 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). The selection is primarily targeted at clinicians and the information from these sessions was grouped into 5 chapters: studies likely to have an impact on our clinical practice on the short term, early clinical trials with promising new treatments, therapeutic advances in rare hematological diseases, new insights in mechanisms of disease and innovative applications for next generation sequencing (NGS).

(BELG J HEMATOL 2018;9(1):3–7)