VJHemOnc Podcast

The AML sessions: venetoclax-based regimens

The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax has been evaluated in many hematological malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). More recently, emerging mechanisms of resistance and future directions of venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents and IDH inhibitors have been evaluated and data presented at EHA 2020, as well as SOHO 2020 has shown promising results in AML.

In this podcast, Naval Daver, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, leads an exciting discussion alongside Courtney DiNardo and Marina Konopleva, also from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as Andrew Wei of Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, on the latest updates in the use of venetoclax-based regimens for the treatment of AML.

 

The AML Sessions: IDH inhibitors

IDH mutations are present in 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and the use of IDH targeting agents has shown favorable clinical responses in AML, with ivosidenib and enasidenib (IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitors) being approved by the US F.D.A for relapsed/refractory AML patients.

In this podcast, Amir Fathi of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, chairs a panel discussion evaluating the use of IDH inhibitors in AML and myelodysplastic syndromes, the potential of combination therapies using these agents, and the development of differentiation syndrome in AML. Dr Fathi is joined by Stephane De Botton of Gustave Roussy Institute, Villejuif, France, and Daniel Pollyea of the University of Colorado, Denver, CO.

The AML sessions: advances in immuno-oncology from SOHO 2020

The field of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has seen rapid progression in the field of immuno-oncology which has led to vast improvements in patient outcomes. The annual Society of Hematological Oncology (SOHO) allowed great discussion of the translation of key data into clinical practice, including the state of the art in immunotherapy for AML.

In this podcast, Marion Subklewe of LMU Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany, leads a panel discussion evaluating checkpoint inhibitors, anti-CD47 therapy, BiTEs and CAR T-cell approaches in AML alongside Naval Daver of the University of Texas MD Anderson Center, Houston, TX, David Sallman of H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center, Tampa, FL and Amer Zeidan of Yale University and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT.

Advances in CAR-T and cellular therapy from EBMT 2020: MSCs, clinical trial updates and gene-edited effector cells

Cell therapy involves the transplantation of viable cells into a patient in order to trigger a medicinal effect. CAR-T is a popular form of cell therapy, specifically immunotherapy, that can use a patient’s own altered immune cells to fight cancer.

In this podcast, Annalisa Ruggeri, MD, of IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu, Noopur Raje, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, Matthew Frigault, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, and Maksim Mamonkin, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine, discuss key updates and clinical trial results in the field of CAR-T and cellular therapies presented at EBMT 2020.

SOHO 2020: Next questions in hematological malignancies

The Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting brought together global leading experts in hematological oncology who updated the community on the latest data and hot topics in the treatment and management of hematological malignancies.

The next questions session at SOHO 2020 illuminated important future considerations in many disease areas of hematological oncology as well as unmet needs in these patient populations.

In this podcast, we hear from Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, and Loretta Nastoupil, MD of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Amer Zeidan, MBBS, of Yale University and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, and finally John DiPersio, MD, PhD, of Washington University, St. Louis, MO, on the next questions in the treatment of patients with hematological malignancies.

 

CLL therapy: the latest trial updates and innovative novel therapies for the future

Recent clinical trials studying novel therapeutic strategies to target chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have brought a spotlight to their potential as alternatives to traditional chemotherapy. Here we bring you an overview and discussion on the latest trial updates, including CLL12, CLL14, RESONATE, ASCEND, among others.

This podcast features Patrick Thornton from Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; Petra Langerbeins of the University of Cologne, Germany; Alessandra Tedeschi from Niguarda Cancer Center, Milan, Italy; Susan O’Brien of the University of California; Paolo Ghia of Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Othman Al-Sawaf of University Hospital Cologne, Germany; Arnon Kater from the University of Amsterdam; and Tanya Siddiqi of the City of Hope, California. The footage featured is from the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2019, held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) 2019 in Lugano, Switzerland.

The MPN Sessions: pathobiology, therapeutic strategies & clinical trials

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of hematopoietic stem cell diseases characterized by the excessive production of one or more myeloid lineage with largely intact cellular differentiation. Recent advances in the field, such as the detection of new driver mutations and a better understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of MPNs, have revolutionized the diagnosis, classification and treatment of these hematological malignancies.

The First Texas MPN Workshop brought together medical experts in the field of MPNs to discuss the latest research and therapy options in development for MPNs. In this podcast, Ruben Mesa, MD, FACP, UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX, Claire Harrison, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, discuss the evolving management of MPNs, including learnings following COVID-19, mutations and molecular definitions of disease, interferon-based therapies, clinical trial updates and takeaways from the 2020 Texas MPN Workshop.

Latest AML therapies: novel preparations and first in class agents

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of acute leukemia among adults with almost 20,000 new cases reported in the US in 2020. With the identification of recurrent mutations and the development of novel agents, stratification has allowed for improvements in patient outcomes. In this podcast, Thomas Cluzeau, MD, PhD, of the Central University Hospital of Nice, Nice, France, Naval Daver, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Andrew Wei, MBBS, PhD, of Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, discuss key updates in the AML field presented at EHA 2020.

Advances in the lymphoma space: targeted therapies, PET-guided omission of RT and CAR T-cells

Lymphoma encompasses a wide selection of cancers that progress in the lymphatic system. Broadly, two types of lymphoma exist, non-Hodgkin lymphoma which is the 7th most common cancer type in the US and UK, and conversely, Hodgkin lymphoma which constitutes 0.5-1% of all cancers reported in the US and UK. Treatment strategies depend on the type of lymphoma, as well as location and staging. Recent treatment developments include novel chemotherapy agents and immunotherapies including CAR T-cells and antibody-drug conjugates. In this podcast, Wendy Osborne, of Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, UK, Peter Borchmann, from the University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany, and Caron Jacobson, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, discuss updates in the lymphoma field presented at this year’s
virtual EHA meeting.

The Myeloma Sessions: Evolving management of myeloma & COVID-19

Patients with cancer frequently exhibit poorer post-COVID-19 infection outcomes, therefore the management of patients with hematological malignancies remains of high importance. Several strategies have been employed to reduce the risk of infection, whilst still providing appropriate therapies for high-risk patients.

In this podcast, Paul Richardson, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, chairs a thoughtful discussion with María-Victoria Mateos of the University Hospital of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, Evangelos Terpos of the University of Athens, Athens, Greece, and Ajai Chari of Mount Sinai, New York, NY, on the treatment of multiple myeloma in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The speakers discuss evolving strategies to reduce risk of COVID-19 infection in myeloma patients, perspectives from Spain, New York, and Greece, recommendations from the International Myeloma Society (IMS), as well as the key updates following the virtual ASCO and EHA meetings.