VJHemOnc Podcast

iwMDS 2022: Key highlights

The 1st International Workshop on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (iwMDS) 2022 was held in Miami, FL, and brought together leading experts in MDS who discussed the latest updates in the field. Several fascinating topics were covered at this year's meeting, including immune dysregulation and targeting in MDS, improving the efficiency of drug approvals, treating high-risk disease, and more. 

In this podcast, Amer Zeidan, MBBS, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, Rena Buckstein, MD, FRCPC, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada, and Valeria Santini, MD, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, share key highlights from this year's workshop. The experts comment on the importance of improving clinical trial design and therapeutic options for patients, as well challenges in the field. 

Identifying high-risk myeloma and improving treatment strategies in these patients

Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease, and despite recent advances in therapeutic agents, several patients still relapse after therapy and have poor survival outcomes. The identification of high-risk features, including the presence of del(17p) and t(4;14), are crucial for improving diagnosis and outcomes for these patients. 

In this podcast, Heinz Ludwig, MD, Wilhelminen Cancer Research Institute, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria, and Meral Beksac, MD, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, hold a fascinating discussion on identifying high-risk myeloma patients, and parameters that can be used to define high-risk disease. The experts also comment on treatment strategies for this patient population, emphasizing the promise of CAR-T therapy and bispecific antibodies. This discussion took place at the 19th International Myeloma Society (IMS) Annual Meeting held in Los Angeles, CA.

Improving the efficiency of drug approvals in MDS

In recent years, the treatment and management of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has improved, and several clinical trials are investigating novel combinations and agents with the aim of providing more options for patients. Due to the heterogeneity of this disease, there are several challenges with treating MDS, and a need to improve the availability of therapeutic agents.

In this podcast, leading experts Hetty Carraway, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, Justin Taylor, MD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, Andrew Brunner, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Olatoyosi Odenike, MD, UChicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, share their thoughts on how to improve the efficiency of drug approvals in MDS. The experts cover several interesting topics, including the challenges associated with treating high-risk disease, novel targets of interest, and more. This discussion took place at the 1st International Workshop on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (iwMDS) held in Miami, FL.

Highlights from the 2022 Texas MPN Workshop: advances in MPN treatment

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) represent a group of rare and heterogeneous diseases which remain a challenge to treat. Several advances have been made in recent years, both in the diagnosis and treatment of MPNs. The 2022 Annual Texas MPN Workshop brought together leading experts in the field, who discussed current and future treatment strategies, ongoing clinical trials, and future outlooks. 

In this exclusive podcast, leading experts Ruben Mesa, MD, UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX, and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, share key updates in the treatment and management of essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and myelofibrosis (MF), and more highlights from this year's meeting.

The need for more effective first-line therapies in MDS

The treatment and management of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remains a challenge due to the heterogeneity of the disease, and early diagnosis and intervention are important factors in MDS. Several experts agree that there is a need to develop more effective first-line therapies, and numerous clinical trials are exploring novel agents and combinations that may improve patient outcomes.

In this exclusive podcast, you will hear from Uwe Platzbecker, MD, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, Daniel Starczynowski, PhD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, Naval Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and David Sallman, MD, Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, who share their thoughts on why there are fewer treatment options for MDS patients compared to other hematological malignancies, the promise of CAR-T therapy and CD47 antibodies in MDS treatment, and more. 

Myeloma 2022: day two highlights

There were several fascinating sessions and discussions at the Myeloma 2022 meeting that took place in Scottsdale, AZ. Topics that were covered include: the role of genomics in the age of immuno-oncology, novel targets and agents, T-cell engagers, and resistance to immunotherapies. 

In this podcast, Gareth Morgan, MD, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, Rafael Fonseca, MD, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, Leif Bergsagel, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, and Keith Stewart, MB, ChB, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada, share their highlights from day two of the Myeloma 2022 meeting. The experts cover several topics, including the biology behind BCL2 inhibitors, T-cell exhaustion and its role in resistance to immunotherapies, and more.

The promise of CAR-T therapy in CLL and challenges in the field

The treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has greatly transformed over the years with the introduction of several agents, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, and anti-CD20 antibodies. CAR-T cell therapy has also improved treatment options for patients with various other hematological malignancies, although there are several barriers to the use of CAR-T therapy in CLL.

In this exclusive podcast, you will hear from experts John Gribben, MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FMed Sci, Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK, Saar Gill, MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, and Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, who discuss the challenges of implementing CAR-T therapy in CLL, the promise of these agents, and more. This discussion took place at the 4th International Workshop on CAR-T (iwCAR-T) meeting held in Tampa, FL.

Clonal hematopoiesis and pre-MDS states

The relationship between mutations and precursor states in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a growing area of research, and advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have allowed experts to gain a better understanding of pre-MDS states. Early detection of precursor conditions, including clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS) and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), can aid in the diagnosis and management of disease. 

In this podcast, you will hear from experts Mrinal Patnaik, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Zhuoer Xie, MD, MSCR, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, and Eric Padron, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, who discuss clonal hematopoiesis and the impact of mutations in MDS, as well as the importance of better understanding precursor states. This discussion took place at the 1st International Workshop on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (iwMDS) held in Miami, FL.

T-cell engagers in multiple myeloma: current challenges and future outlooks

Several novel agents have been approved in the field of multiple myeloma and have greatly transformed the treatment landscape of this disease. However, relapse is still common in many patients, and there is a need to continue exploring novel therapeutic strategies. The introduction of immunotherapies, including CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific T-cell engagers, has marked a paradigm shift in the treatment of multiple myeloma, and T-cell based therapies have shown promising outcomes. 

In this exclusive podcast, leading experts Hermann Einsele, MD, FRCP, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, Nina Shah, MD, University of California, San Francisco, CA, and Thomas Martin, MD, University of California, San Francisco, CA, discuss the current challenges and future applications of T-cell engagers in multiple myeloma, the role of maintenance and transplantation, and more. This discussion took place at The International Workshop on Myeloma 2022, held in Scottsdale, AZ.

High-risk MDS: unmet needs and future treatment approaches

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous group of myeloid neoplasms, and the treatment and management of high-risk MDS remains a challenge. With only two agents currently approved by the FDA and available to patients with high-risk disease, several experts agree that novel therapeutic strategies should be explored. Many ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of combination therapies, with the aim of providing more hope for patients and overcoming challenges in the field.

In this exclusive podcast, you will hear from leading experts Uwe Platzbecker, MD, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, Naval Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Andrew Brunner, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Justin Taylor, MD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, who discuss the current state of the art in high-risk MDS, unmet needs, and future therapeutic approaches. 

The MDS Podcasts on VJHemOnc are supported by Gilead Oncology. Gilead Oncology has no influence over the production of the content.