VJHemOnc Podcast

Diagnosing amyloidosis, currently available therapies & the importance of cardio-oncology

While there have been advances in the treatment and management of amyloidosis in recent years, diagnosis remains a challenge due to the highly varied presentation of this disease. As clinicians and researchers work to improve outcomes for patients, there is increasing importance being placed on the role of the multidisciplinary team in treating these patients.

In this podcast, you will hear from Morie Gertz, MD, MACP, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Ashutosh Wechalekar, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, DM, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and Daniel Lenihan, MD, FACC, Saint Francis Health System, Cape Girardeau, MO, who discuss the significant role of cardio-oncology in amyloidosis, currently available therapies, diagnostic approaches being explored, and more.

Addressing the importance of lymphodepletion, factors contributing to ICAHT & the cost effectiveness of CAR-T therapy

Although CAR-T cells have revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies, there are several important factors that must be addressed regarding the use of these agents. One ongoing challenge is the prevention and management of CAR-T-related toxicities, including immune effector cell-associated hematotoxicity (ICAHT), as well as how to improve affordability and access to these agents. 

In this podcast, you will hear from Ulrich Jäger, MD, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, who discusses the importance of lymphodepletion in CAR-T therapy, Kai Rejeski, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, who updates us on ICAHT, and Gérard de Pouvourville, PhD, ESSEC Business School, Cergy, France, who shares his thoughts on the cost effectiveness of these agents.

Updates with the use of CAR-T therapy in ALL: ongoing challenges, strategies to overcome resistance & future outlooks

The treatment landscape of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has transformed with the introduction of novel immunotherapeutic agents, including CAR-T cells and antibody-based therapies. Despite these advances, several challenges remain in the field. In today's episode, you will hear the latest updates with the use of CAR-T therapy in ALL, as discussed by renowned experts during the EBMT-EHA 6th European CAR T-cell meeting.

In this podcast, André Baruchel, MD, PhD, Hospital Robert Debré AP-HP, Paris, France, Pere Barba, MD, PhD, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, and Alex Rampotas, MD, University College London, London, UK, cover several topics, including challenges with administering CAR-T therapy in B- and T-ALL, the possibility of exploring dual-targeting of CD19 and CD22 to overcome resistance, considerations for managing patients with B-ALL prior to CAR-T therapy, and more.

Targeted therapy in AML: the growing role of menin inhibitors & clinical trials exploring these agents

The treatment landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has transformed in recent years with the introduction of novel targeted agents, including FLT3 inhibitors, IDH inhibitors, and menin inhibitors. Menin inhibitors are currently being explored in several clinical trials, both as monotherapy and in combination with other agents.

In this podcast, Mark Levis, MD, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Ghayas Issa, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Ibrahim Aldoss, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, and Aaron Goldberg, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, comment on the growing role of targeted agents in AML. The experts draw focus on the promise of menin inhibitors, highlighting findings from the AUGMENT-101 (NCT04065399) and KOMET-008 (NCT05735184) trials.

Updates in lower- and higher-risk MDS: challenges, novel agents & key clinical trials at ASH 2023

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of hematologic neoplasms which can be categorized into lower- and higher-risk disease (LR-MDS; HR-MDS). Treatment and management strategies vary for LR-MDS versus HR-MDS, and a number of challenges remain in the field.

In this podcast, you will hear from leading experts who discuss several topics in LR-MDS and HR-MDS. Rena Buckstein, MD, FRCPC, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Canada, and Valeria Santini, MD, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, discuss challenges in LR-MDS, including red blood cell transfusion dependence and approaching patients who fail erythropoiesis‑stimulating agents (ESAs). You will also hear from Amer Zeidan, MBBS, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, Aditi Shastri, MD, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, and David Sallman, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, who discuss novel targets in HR-MDS, moving past hypomethylating agents (HMAs), and ongoing trials in the field. 

Key updates in thalassemia at ASH 2023: gene therapies, ongoing trials & the value of precision medicine

In the last decade, the treatment landscape of thalassemia has been transformed with the introduction of novel therapies. With several agents being evaluated in clinical trials, the future looks promising for patients. Despite these advances, there are challenges and unmet needs which remain, and both clinicians and researchers are working to address these, with the goal of improving outcomes for patients.

In this podcast, you will hear from experts Maria Domenica Cappellini, MD, University of Milan, Milan, Italy, and Kevin Kuo, MD, MSc, FRCPC, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada, who discuss recent updates in thalassemia presented at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting. The experts cover several topics, including the promise of novel gene therapies, the BEYOND trial (NCT03342404), and more.

Updates, challenges and novel agents being explored in BPDCN

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive and rare hematological malignancy associated with poor prognosis. Several challenges remain in the diagnosis, treatment and management of this disease, with a lack of clinical trials in the field. However, clinicians and researchers are working to improve upon these unmet needs, with novel therapies being investigated.

In this podcast, you will hear from Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Nerses Ghahramanyan, MD, Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, Yerevan, Armenia, Marco Herling, MD, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, and Claudio Cerchione, MD, PhD, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Italy, who discuss promising therapies emerging in the field, current challenges, and more. 

Unanswered questions regarding the sequencing of BCMA therapies, the prognostic value of CTCs & the growing role of quadruplets

The treatment and management of patients with multiple myeloma is continually evolving, giving rise to novel prognostic tools and therapeutic options, with associated benefits and challenges. Several ongoing clinical trials in the field are investigating potential treatment approaches and addressing many unanswered questions. 

In this podcast, Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, Bruno Paiva, PhD, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, and Benjamin Derman, MD, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, discuss several interesting topics in myeloma, including the challenges associated with sequencing anti-BCMA therapies, the prognostic value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and the growing role of quadruplet therapies in myeloma, with updates in this space from the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting.

Key updates in sickle cell disease at ASH 2023: disease biology, ongoing trials & the growing role of gene therapy

In recent years, the treatment landscape of sickle cell disease (SCD) has been revolutionized with the introduction of novel agents, including recently approved gene therapies. There are several ongoing trials evaluating the safety of these agents in patients, with promising results being demonstrated.

In this podcast, leading experts Rabi Hanna, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, and Josu de la Fuente, PhD, FRCP, FRCPI, FRCPCH, FRCPath, Imperial College London, London, UK, discuss key updates in SCD presented at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. The experts cover several topics, including the pathogenesis of SCD, novel agents being explored, and the growing role of gene therapies.

ASH 2023 highlights: updates in the diagnosis and treatment of amyloidosis

In recent years, the treatment and management of light chain (AL) amyloidosis has transformed with the introduction of novel agents. While diagnosis and risk stratification remain a challenge, clinicians and researchers are working to improve upon these. Furthermore, novel immunotherapies are being explored in the field, providing hope for patients. 

In this podcast, you will hear from experts Ashutosh Wechalekar, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, DM, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, and Vaishali Sanchorawala, MD, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, who discuss the latest updates in the treatment and management of AL amyloidosis at the 65th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.