Leukemia

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.

An analysis of more than 34,000 5-year survivors of childhood cancer treated over 3 decades finds that modern treatments have reduced long-term mortality rates.

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.

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.

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.

Patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma who have a negative PET finding after 3 cycles of chemotherapy have a good prognosis without undergoing radiotherapy.

Researchers have found immunologic evidence that simian virus 40 (SV40) may be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

In this review we discuss adoptive cellular immunotherapies, small-molecule inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents. We also mention other novel therapies on the horizon.

With each passing year, chemotherapy is less and less a focus of interest. Instead, the focus is on the abundance of exciting new biologic and targeted agents that are bulldozing the therapeutic landscape in the lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Results from a small study suggest that treatment with interferon alpha 2a could help chronic myeloid leukemia patients discontinue imatinib treatment.

A small retrospective study of heavily pretreated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia found bosutinib to be a good option in the fourth-line setting.

Stem cell transplantation from an HLA-genoidentical sibling or an HLA-matched unrelated donor did not affect outcomes among high-risk pediatric ALL patients.

A single-arm, open-label trial in Australia found that selective early switching from imatinib to nilotinib is feasible and effective in patients with CML.