October 17th 2024
Phase 3 data show that nivolumab/AVD may also reduce long-term toxicities vs brentuximab vedotin/AVD in advanced Hodgkin lymphoma.
September 23rd 2024
September 18th 2024
Community Oncology Connections™: Selecting and Sequencing Therapy for Patients With DLBCL in an Era of Expanding Options
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Applying New Evidence in Multiple Myeloma Care from Frontline to R/R Disease
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Community Practice Connections™: 5th Annual Precision Medicine Symposium – An Illustrated Tumor Board
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Annual Hematology Meeting: Preceding the 66th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition
December 6, 2024
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Community Oncology Connections™: Overcoming Barriers to Testing, Trial Access, and Equitable Care in Cancer
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Translating New Evidence into Treatment Algorithms from Frontline to R/R Multiple Myeloma: How the Experts Think & Treat
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Medical Crossfire: How Has Iron Supplementation Altered Treatment Planning for Patients with Cancer-Related Anemia?
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Medical Crossfire®: The Experts Bridge Recent Data in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia With Real-World Sequencing Questions
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Community Practice Connections™: Pre-Conference Workshop on Immune Cell-Based Therapy
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Fighting Disparities and Saving Lives: An Exploration of Challenges and Solutions in Cancer Care
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BURST Expert Illustrations and Commentaries™: Exploring the Mechanistic Rationale for CSF-1R– Directed Treatment in Chronic GVHD
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Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
March 1st 2002There have been significant advances in our understanding of the biology of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and to a lesser extent, in its treatment. Dr. Estey has provided an excellent overview of the current state of the clinical management of the disease. He has described both the standard therapeutic approaches, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, as well as the role of investigational therapy. The present state of clinical research in AML is reviewed in some detail in the context of the broad clinical investigation of the disease at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Estey makes a strong argument for the early consideration of investigational therapy, focusing on patients for whom "standard" therapy is demonstrably inadequate.
Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
March 1st 2002Therapeutic strategies are evolving for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), as well as for those with relapsed or refractory disease. Clinical and laboratory studies have demonstrated that AML is not a single disease, but a heterogeneous group of diseases with different clinical features and natural histories. There are variable responses to therapy depending on both the biologic characteristics of the disease and the clinical characteristics of the patient. Nevertheless, studies evaluating the outcomes of relatively large numbers of patients with newly diagnosed AML show that the majority still die of their disease.[1-3]
Treatment of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
March 1st 2002The treatment of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) ranges from palliative care only, to standard therapy, to investigational approaches. Acute myelogenous leukemia is, in fact, several different diseases, and the percentage of clinical responses varies with disease and prognostic subsets.
Activity of Rituximab in Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphomas (MALT Type)
This phase II study aimed to evaluate the tolerability and activity of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan) in patients with either untreated or relapsed biopsy-proven extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type, with measurable or evaluable disease.
At the 2000 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, we presented the benefits of rituximab (Rituxan) combined with CHOP (cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan, Neosar], doxorubicin HCl, vincristine [Oncovin], prednisone), known as R-CHOP, in comparison with CHOP alone for the treatment of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL).
Cost-Effectiveness of Rituximab in Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
March 1st 2002Rituximab (Rituxan), when combined with CHOP (cyclophosphamide [Cytoxan, Neosar], doxorubicin HCl, vincristine [Oncovin], prednisone) chemotherapy (R-CHOP) in the treatment of patients with CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL), significantly prolongs event-free and overall survival (GELA [Groupe d’Etude des Lymphomes de l’Adulte] LNH 98-5 study). Our objective was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of R-CHOP based on the evidence currently available.
High-Dose Therapy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
March 1st 2002ORLANDO-High-dose therapy with stem cell support improves event-free survival in patients with mantle cell lymphoma when performed in first remission, according to results of a European Intergroup study presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (abstract 3572).
R115777 Has Significant Activity in CML and Myelofibrosis
February 1st 2002HOUSTON-The farnesyl transferase inhibitor R115777 (tipifarnib, also known as Zarnestra) produced an overall response rate of 33% in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and decreased splenomegaly in most patients with myelofibrosis, but was not effective in multiple myeloma, reported Deborah Thomas, MD, at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Thomas is assistant professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Long Survival Confirmed in CML Patients Who Respond to Interferon
February 1st 2002ORLANDO-Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who have a complete cytogenetic response (CCgR) to interferon-alfa have a long survival, and low-risk patients have a projected 10-year survival of more than 80%, Francesca
With Longer Follow-Up, Imatinib Continues to Improve Response Rates in CML
February 1st 2002ORLANDO, Florida-Updated data from two phase II trials show that imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, STI571) continues to improve response rates for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who did not respond to interferon therapy or are in blast crisis. With follow-up of 12 months or more, overall and complete response rates are proving to be durable and toxicities tolerable
Rituximab/Hyper-CVAD Achieves High Complete Responses in Aggressive Mantle Cell Lymphoma
February 1st 2002HOUSTON-In patients 65 years or younger with untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), adding rituximab (Rituxan) to the hyper-CVAD/methotrexate/cytarabine (Ara-C) regimen produced high complete remission rates and failure-free survival rates equivalent to those reported for hyper-CVAD followed by stem cell transplants.
Imatinib Produces Excellent Clinical Responses in Newly Diagnosed CML
February 1st 2002ORLANDO-Imatinib mesylate (STI-571, Gleevec) is showing excellent results in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in the early chronic phase, scientists reported at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American
Imatinib Plus Interferon Produces High Rate of Hematologic Response in CML
February 1st 2002ORLANDO, Florida-Two phase I/II studies indicate that combination treatment with imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, also known as STI571) produces a high rate of hematologic response in patients in the chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Dose-limiting toxicities were mainly hematologic, and researchers advocate further studies were recommended to establish efficacy and recommended dosing.
Molecular Studies Suggest Combining Imatinib With Other Agents in Resistant CML
February 1st 2002MANNHEIM, Germany-Despite encouraging initial responses, patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) frequently become resistant in the advanced, or blast crisis, phase of the disease after initially responding to selective inhibition of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase by imatinib (Gleevec, also known as STI571).
Chemotherapy Plus Radioimmunotherapy Increases Response in Follicular NHL
February 1st 2002ORLANDO, Florida-Conventional chemotherapy has limited efficacy against follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), but research reported at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology showed promising results when conventional regimens were combined with the anti-CD20 drug tositumomab/I-131 tositumomab (Bexxar).
Optimal Dose for Initial Donor Lymphocyte Infusion Reported for Relapsed CML
February 1st 2002ROME-Best outcomes from donor lymphocyte infusion in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) occur when the first dose does not exceed 0.2 × 108 mononuclear cells/kg, Cesare Guglielmi, MD, reported in a presentation at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Novel Chemoradiation Regimen Improves Outlook in Early-Stage Hodgkin’s Disease
February 1st 2002A study conducted by the Southwest Oncology Group reported that a short course of chemotherapy followed by radiation significantly improves time to disease progression and minimizes toxicity in patients with early-stage Hodgkin’s disease. The study evaluated whether chemotherapy should be part of the treatment regimen for patients with early-stage Hodgkin’s disease. Earlier studies of other chemotherapy combinations followed by radiation also demonstrated improved progression-free survival rates; however, patients experienced excessive toxicities.
New Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor More Potent Than STI-571 in CML Cell Lines
January 1st 2002MIAMI BEACH -The Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD173955 (PD17) binds to the target ATP binding pocket even more efficiently than STI-571 (imatinib mesylate, Gleevec). It shows 15 to 20 times greater efficacy in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell lines because it can bind to either open or closed activation loops.
Stanford V and HAART Feasible in HIV Patients With Hodgkin's Disease
January 1st 2002ORLANDO-Use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly changed the prognosis of human immunodeficiency disease (HIV). However, the outcomes of patients with Hodgkin’s disease (HD) in the HIV setting are still poor. According to Michele Spina, MD, this is mainly due to the short duration of complete response.
Radiotherapy After Partial Response to Chemotherapy Boosts Survival in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
December 1st 2001SAN FRANCISCO-Radiotherapy following chemotherapy does not improve survival in patients with stage III/IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) who have a complete response to chemotherapy. It does, however, improve survival in partial responders, according to results from the phase III EORTC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) trial 20884. The findings were presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (plenary 3).
Leukemia Society Offers Patient Information on Use of STI-571
July 1st 2001n WHITE PLAINS, NY-The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has joined in a collaborative partnership with Novartis to educate the public about imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, also known as STI-571), Novartis’ new oral medication approved by the FDA for patients with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who have failed interferon therapy.
FDA Approves Expanded Rituximab Use for Low-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
July 1st 2001SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO-The FDA has approved a supplemental biological license application (sBLA) for Rituxan (rituximab), the monoclonal antibody developed by Genentech, Inc. and IDEC Pharmaceuticals (San Diego) for treatment of patient with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The new product labeling includes re-treatment with rituximab after a prior course, initial treatment with eight weekly infusions instead of four, and treatment of bulky disease.
Agent Orange Linked to AML in Offspring
June 1st 2001WASHINGTON-A new evaluation of existing scientific studies has found "limited or suggestive" evidence to link servicemen’s wartime exposures to herbicides in Vietnam with the development of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in their children. However, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee that reported the finding emphasized that the evidence for the association is not conclusive.
Gleevec Is Approved for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
June 1st 2001WASHINGTON -The Food and Drug Administration, acting with dispatch, has approved the marketing of Gleevec (imatinib mesylate, Novartis) for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The agency granted the drug priority review and orphan drug status, and approved it under the FDA’s "accelerated approval" regulations less than 3 months after the sponsor submitted its marketing request.