CONGRESS NEWS

Highlights in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):183-8)

Highlights in red blood cell disorders

SUMMARY

Insightful research into both sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia was presented at EHA 2021. Firstly, an overview of the worldwide mortality and morbidity of SCD was presented, which highlighted the treatment advances of the past twenty years, as well as the emerging co-morbidities that arise as SCD patients live longer. In this regard, SCD-associated cognitive dysfunction that arises from neurovascular complications were detailed, and the YEARS pulmonary embolism (PE) clinical decision algorithm was evaluated in SCD patients. Additionally, a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of luspatercept highlighted the drug’s ability to induce a clinically meaningful increase in Haemoglobin (Hb) in non-transfusion dependent beta-thalassemia.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):189-94)

AML and MDS: a virtual experience of real world data

INTRODUCTION

The general poor prognosis of AML has stimulated the haematology society and industry to move forward in recent years. Because of these efforts, you could easily imagine yourself at a myeloma session during EHA2021. For patients non-eligible for intensive chemotherapy, the therapeutic arsenal has never been so wide and is constantly expanding. In Belgium, haematologists are bound to strict regulations making ‘game-changing’ data scarce at international congresses. However, the experts in the field shared their strategies in daily practice, which might be even more useful. Nevertheless, one rule remains that it is our duty to include patients in clinical trials whenever possible.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):197-200)

Effectiveness of a recombinant coagulation Factor IX–albumin fusion protein, rIX-FP, in haemophilia B patients: Results of a non-interventional study in Belgium

SUMMARY

The aim of this non-interventional, observational study conducted in haemophilia B patients in Belgium was to collect real-world data to confirm the efficacy and safety of rIX-FP established in pivotal clinical trials.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):203-6)

Highlights in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

SUMMARY

The EHA congress is not only the opportunity to present or update the results of clinical trials, but it is also the occasion to present some fundamental research and to discuss certain themes that allow us rethinking the overall treatment strategy and monitoring of haematologic diseases.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):207-10)

Highlights in lymphoma

SUMMARY

How could you select the best of the EHA meeting? A lot of teams presented very exciting work. In this overview I do not pretend to aim to summarise the entire meeting, I am simply reporting selected presentations, remarkable from my point of view.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):213-6)

Highlights in multiple myeloma

SUMMARY

Major progress has been made in the treatment of Multiple Myeloma (MM) and new current standard of care has been recently published and includes the introduction of triplet and quadruplet combinations, even in first-line, and the concept of continuous treatment.¹ Several new drugs and new associations have been approved and have considerably improved the prognosis of the patients. However, MM remains an incurable disease and patients with high-risk (HR) disease will still experience early relapse. During the European Hematology Association’s annual congress (EHA 2021), results from different trials have highlighted the best options for HR MM, the role of autologous stem cell transplantation, and the exciting results of new anti BCMA-targeting therapy, and have confirmed the results of daratumumab based therapy in first-line treatment.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2021;12(5):220-2)