Hematologic Oncology

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous and motley collection of cancers, which struggle with an identity crisis on many levels. The trials often lump vastly different subgroups, and are often unable to collect sufficient numbers of any one disease subtype to complete a unique cohort.

Advanced imaging techniques could allow clinicians the ability to determine as early as 9 days into sarcoma treatment whether the therapy will be effective in a given patient, according to a new University of Michigan study.

Zoledronic acid did not have any antitumor effect in asymptomatic multiple myeloma patients in relapse, but did delay symptomatic progression and bone disease.

Treatment with lenalidomide and the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat may be effective as a maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma patients after autologous transplant.

In a heavily pretreated multiple myeloma (MM) population, daratumumab monotherapy at 16 mg/kg showed meaningful, durable, single-agent activity, with deep responses and a favorable safety profile, according to a new phase II study.

Several lymphoma subtypes may present with isolated splenomegaly. Establishing a correct histologic diagnosis is critical, since patient management is largely determined by histology.

Incorporation of PD-1 blockade into the treatment algorithms for hematologic malignancies is currently being pursued in multiple active clinical trials. Here we review the data on anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibodies to date and discuss ongoing and future clinical trials.

While the results of the multitude of ongoing PD-1 blockade trials are eagerly awaited, it is clear that research involving the immunotherapy of blood cancers is moving swiftly through this first “checkpoint” at breakneck speed. It is sure to be a fascinating ride.

Given the favorable results seen thus far, there is no doubt that the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia is entering an exciting new era with the advent of these novel, relatively nontoxic and nonmyelosuppressive, oral agents.

Beliefs regarding medication for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are strongly associated with suboptimal treatment adherence, according to a new study.

Ponatinib demonstrates continuing clinical activity in chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients who failed prior treatment with other TKIs.

Obinutuzumab in combination with bendamustine followed by obinutuzumab maintenance improved PFS over bendamustine monotherapy in patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

With a high sensitivity for detecting disease recurrence, follow-up imaging using PET/CT may help to more successfully guide the management of NHL patients at risk for disease recurrence.

A vaccine known as AST-VAC1 was successfully produced from most patients in a phase II trial of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Even in the absence of cranial radiation therapy, survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have decreased neurocognitive function years later.

This video examines a phase III trial of ibrutinib in combination with bendamustine and rituximab in patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

A trial found that ibrutinib in combination with bendamustine and rituximab is superior to standard of care in patients with previously treated CLL/SLL.

An inhibitor of FLT3 known as ASP2215 showed good clinical activity in FLT3-mutated patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Researchers have discovered that people carrying activating killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes, which are expressed in natural killer cells (NK cells), may experience a protective benefit.

We discuss some of the anticipated multiple myeloma trials with Sagar Lonial, MD, ahead of the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia who had a DNMT3A mutation had poorer disease prognosis, according to an analysis of patients aged 60 years or younger.

Women who were treated for Hodgkin lymphoma during childhood and adolescence had similar rates of post-treatment parenthood as that of the general population.

Autologous stem cell transplant led to significantly longer overall survival than non-transplant strategies in a cohort of elderly patients with multiple myeloma.

CML patients with more comorbidities at diagnosis have significantly reduced overall survival, according to an analysis of the randomized CML-Study IV.

A new study using CML in blast crisis cells has identified existing anticancer agents that may provide benefit to patients with this difficult-to-treat disease.

The addition of elotuzumab to lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival and overall response rate in relapsed multiple myeloma patients.

Older adults with acute myeloid leukemia have a substantial health care burden and high rates of health care utilization even at the end of life.

A revised International Pediatric Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Staging System (IPNHLSS) could allow for more precise staging for children and adolescents with NHL.

This session at ONS reviewed treatment options for CLL and the issues associated with bone marrow transplantation in eligible patients.