Hematology

The FDA granted priority review to a biologics license application for tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Autologous stem cell transplantation continues to have a significant role for patients with high-risk myeloma; however, research efforts continue to focus on novel induction, consolidation, and maintenance regimens, as well as the use of tandem transplant, explained Andrew Branagan, MD.

Graft-versus host disease has improved in recent years, but there is still more work to be done.

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are crucial for nurses to track adverse events and other important information for patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy, explained Andrea Price, APN, associate director for clinical research at Washington University School of Medicine.

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for selinexor (Xpovio) as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, who have received ≥2 prior therapies.

Clinicians should consider patient-related factors, disease-related factors, and prior therapies before deciding on a treatment regimen for patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma.

The FDA granted a priority review for the biologics license application for lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), to treat adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.

The biologic license application is supported by data from the phase II ZUMA-2 trial, which is currently assessing the CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Updated data on several emerging treatment modalities were presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting in multiple myeloma, including CAR T-cell therapy, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), and a novel selinexor (Xpovio) combination, explained Sandy W. Wong, MD.

The agency granted the immunoconjugate targeting B-cell maturation antigen priority review to belantamab mafodotin for the treatment of heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Treatment with luspatercept-aamt (Reblozyl) reduced the severity of anemia in patients with very low- to intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with ring sideroblasts who require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, according to findings from the phase III MEDALIST trial that have now been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

After decades of few advances and stagnant treatment approaches, which mainly comprised 7+3 chemotherapy, the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) paradigm now has several agents approved, and plenty of ongoing trials are exploring other novel therapies alone and in combination, according to Melissa L. Larson, MD.

The approval of novel agents, specifically blinatumomab (Blincyto) and CAR T-cell therapy, in the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) paradigm has led has to expanded options for pediatric, adolescent and young adult (AYA), and adult patients; however, ongoing trials are poised to keep moving the field forward, said Joseph Wynne, MD.

A biologics license application has been submitted to the FDA for the rituximab (Rituxan) biosimilar ABP 798, according to the developers, Amgen and Allergan

Myeloma therapies continue to improve, and maybe one day there will be a cure, says one expert.

Minimal residual disease status could cause patients undue stress.

Nurses play a key role in treating patients with myeloma.

A majority of adult patients with β-thalassemia who require regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions experienced clinically meaningful and durable transfusion burden reduction associated with luspatercept (Reblozyl) in the phase III BELIEVE trial.

CAR T-cell therapy is an emerging targeted therapy that has large potential for patients whose disease is relapsed or refractory.

The combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and obinutuzumab (Gazyva) elicited a 100% overall response rate (ORR) in patients with relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that was refractory to rituximab (Rituxan), according to findings of a single-arm, phase I/II trial presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting.

Steroid use while cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic toxicities are at grade 1, instead of waiting until grade 3, reduces the rate of CAR T-cell treatment–related CRS and neurologic events.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation to abatacept (Orencia) to prevent moderate or severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in patients who underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplant and are not related to their donors, according to Bristol-Myers Squibb, the manufacturer of the drug.

JAK inhibitors have been the standard of care for patients with myelofibrosis, but now patients need novel agents to help.

New approvals in the treatment of patients with myeloma has led to the question of what sequencing of drugs will work best for patients.

The FDA has approved acalabrutinib for the treatment of adult patients with CLL or SLL.

The Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to zanubrutinib for the treatment of relapsed and refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Elderly patients with AML have long faced limited options for their treatment, but that is no longer the case. However, challenges still remain in the treatment of this patient population.

Precision medicine is sweeping across the cancer care spectrum, and now, experts have their sights set on applying it in MCL.

Any patient with cancer needs a caregiver through the treatment journey, but it's even more vital for patients with cancer undergoing the stem cell transplant process.

The FDA has granted an RMAT designation for an investigational CAR-T cell therapy used to treat patients with multiple myeloma.