VJHemOnc Podcast

Overcoming barriers to CAR-T therapy: improving access and cost

CAR-T therapy has become a promising novel option for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) hematological malignancies, providing hope to several individuals with a high unmet medical need. Although CAR-T cells have demonstrated promising efficacy in patients, there are several challenges that need to be overcome before these are optimally used in clinical practice. 

In this podcast, you will hear from Edward Cliff, MPH, MBBS, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, and Natacha Bolaños, Lymphoma Coalition Europe, Madrid, Spain, who discuss two major barriers to CAR-T therapy: the high cost of CAR-T cells and the need to improve access to these agents.

The importance of addressing quality of life and improving symptom management in MPNs

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) represent a challenging group of diseases to treat, and patients with MPNs suffer from several symptoms which negatively impact their quality of life (QoL). Novel agents, including JAK inhibitors, have demonstrated an ability to reduce symptom burden in patients with MPNs, and there is ongoing research aimed at improving symptom management and QoL in these patients.

In this podcast, you will hear from Ruben Mesa, MD, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston Salem, NC, Lucia Masarova, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Jeanne Palmer, MD, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, who discuss the importance of understanding and addressing QoL in patients with MPNs, and further highlight strategies to improve symptom management.

Updates in the treatment and management of amyloidosis and the importance of the multidisciplinary team

Amyloidosis is a rare disease in which insoluble amyloid proteins are deposited in tissues or organs, resulting in organ damage. The diagnosis and treatment of this disease remain a major challenge, with several novel agents being explored in clinical trials. Furthermore, clinicians and researchers are drawing attention to the important role of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the treatment and management of patients.

In this podcast, experts Meral Beksac, MD, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, Shaji Kumar, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Efstathios Kastritis, MD, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece, discuss recent updates in the treatment and management of amyloidosis, and further highlight the importance of the MDT in this disease.

Hemophilia: the current standard of care and the value of novel gene therapies

Over the years, the hemophilia treatment landscape has transformed, with novel agents aiming to improve patient care and quality of life. Factor replacement therapy has been the standard of care in hemophilia, although there are limitations to this approach. More recently, the approval of novel gene therapies has presented a promising option for patients with both hemophilia A and B.

In this podcast, you will hear from Michiel Coppens, MD, PhD, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Johannes Oldenburg, MD, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany, who discuss the current standard of care in hemophilia and share some insights into the value of gene therapies. 

CLL highlights at EHA 2023: latest advances with the use of BTK inhibitors

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have transformed the treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with both covalent and non-covalent agents being explored. There are several questions surrounding the sequencing and selection of these agents, and clinical trials exploring their efficacy. At the 2023 EHA meeting, leading experts from around the globe came together to discuss the latest updates in all areas of hematological oncology. 

In this podcast, you will hear from Lydia Scarfò, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University & IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, and Othman-Al Sawaf, MD, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, who discuss the latest updates with the use of BTK inhibitors in CLL. Topics addressed include the management of double-refractory patients, the efficacy and toxicity of covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors, the sequencing of these agents, and more. 

Myeloma highlights at EHA 2023: CARTITUDE-4 & CARTITUDE-1 updates & the use of MRD in clinical practice

In recent years, CAR-T cell therapy has transformed the myeloma treatment landscape and has provided a valuable option to patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. Several clinical trials are evaluating the efficacy of CAR-T cells and are further exploring the possibility of bringing these agents into earlier lines of therapy. At the 2023 EHA meeting, leading experts from around the globe came together to discuss the latest updates in all areas of hematological oncology.

In this podcast, you will hear from Jesús San Miguel, MD, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, and Enrique Ocio, MD, PhD, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain, who share some updates from the CARTITUDE-4 and CARTITUDE-1 trials (NCT04181827; NCT03548207), and further comment on current and emerging uses of measurable residual disease (MRD) in clinical practice.

Lymphoma highlights at EHA 2023: sequencing bispecifics & CAR-T cells, bridging therapy & toxicity management

The treatment landscape of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) has transformed in recent years, with novel immunotherapies including bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cells demonstrating promising results. At the 2023 EHA meeting, leading experts from around the globe came together to discuss the latest updates in all areas of hematological oncology. 

In this podcast, you will hear from Gloria Iacoboni, MD, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, and Paolo Strati, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, who share some insights into recent advances in CAR-T therapy and bispecific antibodies in the treatment of LBCL. Topics covered include the sequencing of these agents, bridging therapies, and managing toxicities and cytopenias after CAR-T therapy. 

iwCAR-T Session IV: CAR-T therapy in CLL: challenges, combination approaches and ongoing trials

The 5th International Workshop on CAR-T (iwCAR-T) took place in Scottsdale, AZ, on 14 – 16 April, 2023, and brought together world-leading experts in CAR-T therapy as they discussed the latest in the field. In this podcast series, you will gain an insight into the sessions that took place at this year’s meeting, which covered the latest updates in CAR-T therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and more.

In this podcast, you will hear from John Gribben, MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FMed Sci, Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK, Joseph Melenhorst, PhD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, and Tanya Siddiqi, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, who discuss challenges with implementing CAR-T therapy in CLL, ongoing clinical trials, and research exploring combination approaches with CAR-T cells and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors.

MDS 2023 highlights: managing anemia in lower-risk MDS & overcoming treatment failure in higher-risk disease

Therapeutic agents for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are currently under active investigation in clinical trials. The management of cytopenias, including anemia, is an important component in the treatment of lower-risk MDS (LR-MDS), and many agents are being evaluated to better manage these. In the context of higher-risk MDS (HR-MDS), many patients may fail to respond to novel agents and the reasons for these failures are a key topic of discussion in the field.

In this podcast, you will hear from Amer Zeidan, MBBS, Yale University and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, and Valeria Santini, MD, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, as they discuss the management of anemia in LR-MDS and strategies to overcome treatment failure in HR-MDS. This discussion was filmed at the 17^th International Congress on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) 2023, held in Marseille, France.

iwCAR-T Session III: CAR-T therapy in AML: ongoing challenges and strategies to improve patient outcomes

The 5th International Workshop on CAR-T (iwCAR-T) took place in Scottsdale, AZ, on 14 – 16 April, 2023, and brought together world-leading experts in CAR-T therapy as they discussed the latest in the field. In this podcast series, you will gain an insight into the sessions that took place at this year’s meeting, which covered the latest updates in CAR-T therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and more.

In this podcast, you will hear from David Sallman, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, Marion Subklewe, MD, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany, and Roman Shapiro, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, who discuss major challenges with CAR-T therapy in AML, strategies to improve outcomes for patients, and more.