VJHemOnc Podcast

CAR-T therapies and bispecific antibodies in the treatment of high-risk multiple myeloma: updates from iwHRMM 2024

This week's podcast features discussions on the use of immunotherapy in the treatment of high-risk multiple myeloma (HRMM) from the 1st International Workshop on High-Risk Multiple Myeloma (iwHRMM), which took place Charleston, SC. You will hear from experts Ajai Chari, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, and Krina Patel, MD, MSc, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, who discuss the use of CAR T-cells in the treatment of HRMM. They highlight clinical trial findings, the use of CAR-Ts in specific high-risk subgroups, and the potential for allogeneic CAR T-cell products. Additionally, Thomas Martin, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Ajai Chari, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, Niels Van de Donk, MD, PhD, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Saad Usmani, MD, MBA, FACP, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, speak about bispecific antibodies in HRMM. They discuss strategies to optimize treatment, potential resistance mechanisms, and combination strategies. 

The treatment landscape and challenges in rare diseases: BPDCN, CMML, MPN-AP/BP, and VEXAS

This podcast features a discussion from the 6th International Workshop on Acute Leukemias (iwAL) 2024, which took place in Phoenix, AZ. You will hear from Anand Patel, MD, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, Marina Konopleva, MD, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, Guillermo Montalban-Bravo, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Emma Groarke, MD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, who discuss several rare myeloid diseases, including accelerated- and blast-phase myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN-AP/BP), blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and VEXAS syndrome. The experts provide valuable insight into the treatment of these diseases and the unique challenges associated with each one.

Exploring the role of BTK inhibitors in mantle cell lymphoma: sequencing & managing adverse events

Today's podcast focuses on the role of BTK inhibitors (BTKis) in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). You will hear from experts Krish Patel, MD, Providence Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, WA, Marek Trněný, MD, PhD, Charles University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic, Michael Wang, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Craig Portell, MD, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. They share updates on trials investigating BTKis in the frontline treatment of MCL, including the ECHO (NCT02972840), SHINE (NCT01776840), and TRIANGLE (NCT02858258) studies. They then go on to discuss how these agents are optimally sequenced and give advice for managing cardiac toxicities associated with BTKis.

An update on menin inhibition in AML from iwAL 2024: current data, mechanisms of resistance, & more!

Menin inhibitors are emerging as a promising therapeutic approach in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly in patients with specific genetic mutations such as KMT2A-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML. These inhibitors disrupt the leukemogenic signaling pathways that drive leukemia cell proliferation by blocking the actions of menin. They can help restore regular gene expression and halt the progression of AML.

In this podcast episode, you will hear updates on menin inhibitors in AML from the 6th International Workshop on Acute Leukemias (iwAL), which took place in Phoenix, AZ. Experts Joshua Zeidner, MD, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, and Eunice Wang, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, delve into current data on the four menin inhibitors being investigated in AML. They then go on to discuss the development of resistance to this drug class and the potential value of these agents in the post-transplant setting. 

CAR T-cells and bispecific antibodies in the treatment of NHL: updates from iwNHL 2024

Today's podcast features discussions from the 21st International Workshop on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (iwNHL) which took place in Nice, France. You will hear updates on the use of CAR T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from experts Catherine Bollard, MBChB, MD, FRACP, FRCPA, Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC, Stephen Schuster, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, and Jason Westin, MD, FACP, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. They discuss where CAR-T fits into the treatment landscape, managing toxicities, and the potential of allogeneic CAR-T products. 

You will also hear from Stephen Ansell, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Marion Subklewe, MD, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany, Martin Hutchings, MD, PhD, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Krish Patel, MD, Swedish Cancer Institute, Seattle, WA, who share insights into the use of bispecific antibodies in the treatment of NHL. Their discussion focuses on comparisons between CAR-T and bispecifics and the unique challenges of using bispecific antibodies, including mitigating toxicities. They also mention exciting combination approaches with antibody-drug conjugates and co-stimulatory agents.

Prolonging remission in AML: current approaches & future outlooks

Today's podcast features a discussion with leading experts Harry Erba, MD, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC, Farhad Ravandi, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Thomas Cluzeau, MD, PhD, Central University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France, on strategies to prolong remission in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They focus on the roles of intensive chemotherapy, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and maintenance therapies. Key topics include optimizing initial therapy to achieve deeper remissions, the benefits of using measurable residual disease (MRD) assays to tailor post-remission treatments, and exploring new maintenance options such as targeted agents.

A focus on the use of artificial intelligence to personalize blood cancer care

Welcome to the final episode of VJHemOnc's Blood Cancer Awareness Month special series! 

This episode focuses on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in personalizing blood cancer care. Carsten Niemann, MD, PhD, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses the value of AI in hematological oncology and how it is currently used in the clinic. He then shares details of a treatment infection model for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that has been deployed in his institution. Gareth Morgan, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, NYU Langone, New York City, NY, delves into the role of AI in the classification of multiple myeloma and the prediction of patients who will need transplantation. He also touches on the use of AI to better understand genomic data.

A focus on pediatric leukemias: trials, treatments, & challenges

Welcome to the third episode of VJHemOnc’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month special series! 

The focus of this episode is pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). You will hear from Michele Redell, MD, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, who shares insights into the Pediatric Acute Leukemia (PedAL) Screening Trial and challenges that remain in the treatment of AML. Mark Litzow, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, discusses a study investigating drug responses in children compared to adults. Christina Peters, MD, St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Vienna, Austria, speaks on the FORUM trial (NCT01949129) and CAR-T therapy for pediatric patients. 

A focus on the psychosocial impacts of living with blood cancer

Welcome to the second episode of VJHemOnc’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month special series! 

Today's episode focuses on the psychosocial impacts of living with blood cancer. First, you will hear from Lorna Warwick, BA, Lymphoma Coalition, Toronto, Canada, who shares the work of the Lymphoma Coalition Global Patient Survey. Next, you will hear insights from Surabhi Chaturvedi, MBACP, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, who is a senior psychotherapist in hematological oncology. Finally, Charlie Craddock, CBE, FRCP, FRCPath, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, will discuss the psychosocial impacts of transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 

Global perspectives on blood cancers: addressing disparities in awareness, diagnosis, and treatment

Welcome to the first episode of VJHemOnc's Blood Cancer Awareness Month special series! 

This episode focuses on global perspectives of blood cancers and addresses the disparities that exist in awareness, diagnosis, and treatment. First, Lalit Kumar, MD, MBBS, Artemis Hospital, New Delhi, India, discusses challenges that exist in the management of blood cancers in India, and programs that are in place to address these. Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ, then goes on to address racial disparities in the treatment of multiple myeloma in America. Amrutha Sridhar, MBBS, University College London Hospitals, London, UK, discusses socioeconomic and racial disparities in myeloma trial recruitment, followed by Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), MS Ed, CLL Society, Inc., Chula Vista, CA, who shares insights into a survey investigating global disparities in access to treatment and resources for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in low-income countries.