Hematology

The FDA has expanded the prescribing information for axicabtagene ciloleucel to include prophylactic corticosteroids for all approved indications.

Ibrutinib plus rituximab is effective, easy to administer, and removes the need for chemotherapy in older patients, say experts.

Oral decitabine, an oral fixed-dose of combination decitabine and CDA inhibitor cedazuridine, is an FDA-approved therapy for patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Recently presented findings demonstrate that aspacytarabine may represent a viable treatment option for various subsets of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

An expert from Mount Sinai Hospital comments on potential new ruxolitinib combinations to treat patients with myelofibrosis and MPNs.

An expert from the Tisch Cancer Institute highlights the importance of medication adherence, nausea management, and proper hydration for patients being treated with selinexor for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

A comparative analysis indicated that lisocabtagene maraleucel generated superior quality of life in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma compared with the current standard of care.

Kathy Burns, MS, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, of the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, comments on the importance of self-awareness as an oncology nurse when working to overcome one’s implicit bias.

Oncology nurses are often the main point of contact for newly diagnosed patients with cancer. We have the opportunity to ensure that each person starts their journey with equality and equity on their side.

Patients with high levels of amphiregulin were at a higher risk of an early death in acute graft-versus-host-disease, according to a presentation at the 2021 ASH Annual Meeting.

Belantamab mafodotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that functions by targeting BCMA and has demonstrated clinically meaningful activity in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Acalabrutinib was linked to a lower incidence of cardiovascular-related toxicities and overall toxicity burden compared with ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel improved the quality of life in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma receiving the agent as a second-line therapy.

Patients with myeloma who reported that their disease was incurable had lower quality of life. However, many patients may also have misconceptions about the curability of their disease.

Abatacept is now available for use in combination with certain immunosuppressants to prevent moderate to severe acute-graft-versus-host disease for select patients who have received unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

A presentation at the 2021 ASH Annual Meeting revealed a significant association between elevated white blood counts and thrombotic events among patients with polycythemia vera and controlled hematocrit levels.

Ibrutinib, both in the frontline setting and in the form of continuous treatment, was associated with improved quality of life over chemoimmunotherapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

If patients with cancer experience depression or anxiety, it can result in low clinical trial enrollment.

Tisagenlecleucel evoked similar efficacy and a preferrable safety profile in children and adults with B-ALL being treated in a real-world analysis, compared with the clinical trial ELIANA.

In comparison to physicians’ choice of treatment, ciltacabtagene autoleucel demonstrated significant advantages in progression-free and overall survival, time to next treatment, and overall response rate.

Combining ibrutinib with rituximab resulted in improved 2-year progression-free survival among elderly patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The FDA has approved the combination of rituximab plus chemotherapy to treat children aged between 6 months and 18 years who have advanced-stage, CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Burkitt lymphoma (BL), Burkitt-like lymphoma (BLL), or mature B-cell acute leukemia (B-AL).

Patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia experienced positive gene set enrichment after receiving ibrutinib in addition to lisocabtagene maraleucel.

Physicians urge patients with lymphoid malignancies to continue precautionary COVID-19 measures regardless of vaccination status.

Stephanie Jackson, DNP, MSN, RN, AOCNS, BMTCN, Oncology Nursing News co-editor in chief, discusses the importance of NCCN guidelines in prescribing medications for patients with chronic leukemia. .

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft is now an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of polycythemia vera.

Stephanie Jackson, DNP, MSN, RN, AOCNS, BMTCN, Oncology Nursing News co-editor in chief, discusses omacetaxine as a novel regimen in CML treatment.

Findings from biomarker tests for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia can help appropriately tailor therapy plans as well as identify patients eligible for clinical trials.

Newer modalities seek to use MRD to provide more definitive prognoses.

The new Cilta-Cel PDUFA decision date is February 28, 2022.