Leukemia

This article describes the clinical data that led to approval of these B-cell receptor inhibitors for the treatment of CLL, and highlights newer agents in clinical development that target the same kinases as the currently available therapies.

Single-agent blinatumomab demonstrated antileukemia activity in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) in a recently published phase I/II study.

Although ibrutinib-related atrial fibrillation (IRAF) occurs in up to 11% of patients in clinical trials, these studies have rarely fully characterized bleeding events or risk factors for bleeding when ibrutinib is combined with anticoagulation. Furthermore, guidelines do not provide direction regarding the preferred anti-arrhythmic agent for IRAF.

Several critical issues need to be addressed during the next several years if we are to reach the true potential of new agents like ibrutinib, idelalisib, venetoclax, ofatumumab, and obinutuzumab-which conceivably could ultimately cure CLL.

Expression levels of CD62L and related immunologic markers are correlated with treatment responses and outcome in patients with CML, according to a new analysis. The markers could have prognostic value if validated in other cohorts.

The combination of ATRA and arsenic trioxide for the treatment of low- or intermediate-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia had advantages compared with ATRA plus chemotherapy.

A study found that deregulation of homeobox transcription factor genes underlies a subtype of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia with a history of prior malignancies generally fare as well as those without such a history, according to a new study.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus was associated with an increased risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma among patients with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy.

A new collaboration among industry, nonprofit, academia, and the federal government may lead to a change in the treatment paradigm for acute myeloid leukemia.

Maintenance therapy with norethandrolone significantly improved survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia without increasing toxicity.

An analysis of tyrosine kinase inhibitor initiation and adherence in Medicare beneficiaries with chronic myeloid leukemia suggests that out-of-pocket costs may be a barrier to treatment.

In this article we review the scientific rationale, preclinical evidence, and most recent clinical data for the use of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.

In this review, we will describe the mechanism of action of CAR T cells, discuss outcomes of current clinical trials, and highlight emerging directions for this exciting approach to cancer treatment.

An 80-year-old man presented with a disabling pruritic rash characterized by disseminated and coalescing plaques on the trunk and proximal extremities and covering 40% of his total body surface area, without peripheral lymphadenopathy.

Ultimately, the management goal is not for patients with relapsed/refractory disease to live with chronic Hodgkin lymphoma while receiving immune checkpoint blockade therapy, but rather to cure more patients with first- or second-line therapy.

Identification of effective lymphodepletion strategies, optimization of patient selection, and management of novel toxicities remain challenges in the growing field of cellular immunotherapy.

Several FDA-approved anti-malarial and anti-fungal drugs might be able to overcome a previously unexploited mechanism that allows some leukemia cells to escape programmed cell death.

Several anti-malarial and anti-fungal drugs might be able to overcome a previously unexploited mechanism that allows some leukemia cells to escape programmed cell death.

A supplemental New Drug Application has been submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration for marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), and if approved, ibrutinib (Imbruvica) will be the first therapy specifically approved for patients with MZL.

It turns out that CAR T cells can do more than directly attack cancer cells. They can be used as “micro-pharmacies” for precise therapeutic delivery in B-cell lymphomas.

Development of targeted therapies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents an ongoing challenge for the field. There is substantial promise, however, in several different approaches to targeted AML therapy, including IDH inhibitors, FLT3 inhibitors, and others.

The STIM1 study shows that patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who have undetectable minimal residual disease can safely discontinue imatinib therapy.

Clinicians and patients now have several options for frontline management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia; exactly which option is preferred remains up for debate.

The 5-year survival rate for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been below 10%. Immunotherapies, however, are starting to challenge that paradigm.

Because of the high cure rate in early-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma, reducing toxicity is a primary concern. One idea for doing so is a subject of ongoing research: is elimination of all radiotherapy in many of these patients a possibility?

In this interview we discuss the different types of T-cell lymphomas and how supportive care is used in the management of these malignancies.

Phase II data provide further evidence that patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia with 17p deletion have a new treatment option with ibrutinib.

The monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan) improves event-free survival (EFS) among adults with CD20-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to authors of a phase III clinical trial conducted in France and Switzerland.

The combination of dasatinib (Sprycel) and venetoclax (Venclexta) may have the potential to improve the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL), according to Oregon researchers.