VJHemOnc Podcast

iwNHL 2021: immunotherapy and the microenvironment

Recent progress in the field of immunotherapy presents an exciting alternative to standard chemotherapy treatments for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, at present, durable responses are only achieved in a minority of patients. Accumulating evidence suggests that the microenvironment plays a critical role in the regulation of immunotherapeutic agents. Furthering our understanding of this relationship may help to enhance the outcomes of current immunotherapy regimens and improve the development of novel immunotherapies.

In this podcast, Patricia Pérez Galán of the IDIBAPS University Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain, Stephen Ansell of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Frederick Locke of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, and Francisco Hernandez-Ilizaliturri of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, talk on the impact and role of the tumor microenvironment on outcomes with immunotherapy in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The Myeloma Sessions: highlights from EHA and ASCO 2021

The introduction of many novel drug classes and therapies has resulted in significant improvements in overall survival outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma over the past decade. Despite this, many patients become relapsed or refractory to currently available therapies and as such, novel agents and combination regimens remain key to improving the outcomes of patients in high-risk subgroups. Immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies have become increasingly prominent in the multiple myeloma space, with the first CAR-T therapy for myeloma receiving FDA approval in March 2021. However, with such a broad range of treatments now available, there is debate on the optimal sequencing of therapies.

In this roundtable discussion, chaired by Noopur Raje, MD, from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, Nina Shah, MD, of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, Yi Lin, MD, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Katja Weisel, MD, from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, review the most exciting updates from the 2021 European Hematology Association (EHA) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meetings, including the latest data from the MAIA, FORTE and Cassiopeia trials, as well as talking on novel agents and CAR-T therapies.

EHA 2021: key trial updates in myelofibrosis

The breakthrough discovery of upregulation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway as the driving force behind myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) has led to a broadened range of treatment options across the spectrum of MPNs. Myelofibrosis is one of the most common types of MPN and many clinical trials are exploring novel drugs and combinations for its treatment. The JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib became the first JAK inhibitor to receive FDA approval for the treatment of myelofibrosis in 2011, and more recently the FDA granted approval to fedratinib for patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis.

In this podcast, Srdan Verstovsek, MD, from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Ruben Mesa, MD, from the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX, and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, of the MD Anderson Cancer Center, discuss the key updates from clinical trials investigating novel therapies and treatment regimens for patients with myelofibrosis, which were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2021 meeting.

The MPN Sessions: highlights from EHA and ASCO 2021

Over the past decade there has been a vast increase in the number of clinical trials taking place in the field of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), with many trials investigating the potential benefits of novel JAK inhibitors both as monotherapy and in combination with other drugs, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL or BET inhibitors. More recently, next-generation sequencing has led to the identification of further mutations associated with MPNs, which may provide alternative therapeutic targets. In particular, the telomerase inhibitor imetelstat and the MDM2 inhibitor KRT-232, have demonstrated potential benefits for patients with myelofibrosis, whilst the tyrosine kinase inhibitor avapritinib recently received FDA approval for the treatment of advanced systemic mastocytosis.

In this roundtable discussion, leading MPN experts Ruben Mesa, MD, from the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX, and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, review the top highlights from the 2021 European Hematology Association (EHA) and American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meetings, including data on novel JAK inhibitors and combination regimens, therapies for rarer MPNs and updates from ongoing Phase III trials of key treatments.

The MDS Sessions: highlights from ASCO/EHA 2021

Treatment options for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) remain limited, with the rapid advances seen in other hematological malignancies not replicated in this space. Aside from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, current approaches are non-curative, instead aiming to delay disease progression and manage cytopenias. The development of second-line therapies is a particularly urgent need. However, much research is underway to address this paucity of available options. Many new agents, targets, and treatment approaches are in development or under investigation, such as novel HMA-based combinations, immunotherapies including magrolimab and sabatolimab, and first-in-class agents like pevondenistat.

Researchers and clinicians from across the world came together to share anticipated trial data and state-of-the-art developments with the MDS community at the recent 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European Hematology Association (EHA) meetings.

In this episode, VJSession chair Amer Zeidan, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, is joined by renowned experts Andrew Wei, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and David Sallman, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, to discuss exciting developments in the MDS space reported at the ASCO and EHA 2021 meetings. This MDS session features updates on the latest trial data for key approved and investigational agents, novel targets and therapeutics, and patient selection considerations in light of a broadening treatment armamentarium.

EHA 2021: fixed-duration therapies and sequencing in CLL

Over the last years, the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) field has seen significant growth in new drugs and new treatment combinations. One emergent strategy is fixed-duration therapy, which combines two or more agents for a set timeframe. Fixed-duration therapy is an appealing option for different reasons, including shorter treatment times and lower costs. Ongoing clinical trials investigating fixed-duration therapy combinations, such as ibrutinib-venetoclax, will help determine the best drug combination as well as the patient populations that will benefit the most. Another increasingly important topic in the CLL field is the optimal treatment selection and sequencing of therapies in the era of targeted therapies.

In this exclusive podcast, Paolo Ghia, MD, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy, Arnon Kater, MD, PhD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Jacqueline Barrientos, MD, MS, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, discuss some of the latest updates in CLL treatment presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress 2021.

The AML Sessions: highlights from ASCO/EHA 2021

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal hematologic malignancy defined by genetic heterogeneity due to recurrent gene mutations. Precision medicine has gained importance in the treatment of AML, with important developments in gene mutation-targeted therapeutic agents transforming the treatment landscape. The role of measurable residual disease (MRD), an independent, postdiagnosis, prognostic indicator, in AML has been explored for many years. Still, the implementation of standardized MRD techniques remains critical for their use in clinical practice. Although the field has seen major therapeutic advances, novel agents, targets, and regimens continue to be investigated to offer patients a more promising outcome.

In this VJSession, Naval Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, is joined by Eunice Wang, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, and Felicitas Thol, MD, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, who discuss the exciting updates in the field of AML from the 2021 EHA and ASCO meetings, including developments in targeted therapeutic agents, MRD approaches and emerging therapies and targets.

EHA 2021: key trial updates in myeloma

The treatment and management of multiple myeloma has evolved drastically over the last ten years with the introduction of many novel drug classes and therapies, resulting in notable improvements in overall survival. However, many patients remain relapsed or refractory and thus clinical trials of novel agents and combinations are key to improving the outcomes of high-risk subgroups. In particular, there has been a rapid increase in the number of immunotherapies being trialled for myeloma patients, including monoclonal antibody and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies.

In this podcast, Saad Usmani, MD, MBBS, MBA, from the Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC, Maria-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, from the University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, Enrique M. Ocio, MD, PhD, from the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain, Amrita Krishnan, MD, from City of Hope, Duarte, CA, and Evangelos Terpos, MD, PhD, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, share key updates on clinical trials of novel therapies and regimens for the treatment of multiple myeloma, as presented at this year’s Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2021).

Key updates on CAR-T therapy for ALL

There are several forms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with B-cell ALL being the most common (~75% of cases). A range of treatments are available for ALL, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a novel cellular therapy that has demonstrated potential for treating other forms of leukemia, such as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

In this podcast, Reuben Benjamin, MBBS, FRCPath, PhD, from King's College Hospital, London, UK, Cameron Turtle, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FRCPA, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, Claire Roddie, MD, PhD, from University College London, London, UK, Nirali Shah, MD, from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, and Bianca Santomasso, MD, PhD, from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discuss the latest updates and future directions for the use of CAR-T therapy in the treatment of ALL.

The Myeloma Sessions: post-COMY 2021 myeloma patients session

During the COVID-19 pandemic, myeloma support and advocacy groups were forced to adapt to a new way of working in order to continue helping patients with myeloma and improving their quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that patients with myeloma interact with their doctors, with phone and video appointments filling in for face-to-face appointments, as well as impacting on the role of nurses. Furthermore, the emotional burden of lockdowns and increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection for patients with hematological malignancies has made the role of myeloma nurses and advocacy groups more important than ever.

In this VJSession, chaired by leading myeloma expert Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, myeloma nurse Sarah Henshaw, BSc, MSc, and patient advocates Jack Aiello, Cindy Chmielewski and Jim Omel, MD, discuss myeloma from the patient’s perspective, highlighting challenges during the pandemic and the role of the patient advocate.