Hematology

The FDA has approved the monoclonal antibody daratumumab (Darzalex), in combination with bortezomib (Velcade), melphalan, and prednisone (VMP) for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

The FDA has approved the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) for use in adult patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma—including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma—after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy.

BLU-667 appeared to be well-tolerated and had broad clinical benefit among patients with advanced, RET-altered solid tumors who progressed on prior therapies, according to study findings from a phase I clinical trial presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2018.

The FDA approved fostamatinib disodium hexahydrate (Tavalisse), an SYK inhibitor, as a second-line treatment for patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia following insufficient response to a previous therapy.

Findings from a phase III randomized clinical trial offer new hope to some patients who have advanced myelofibrosis.

The FDA has granted a priority review to duvelisib for a full approval for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and an accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma.

The FDA has granted a priority review to moxetumomab pasudotox for the treatment of adult patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) who have received at least 2 prior lines of therapy, according to AstraZeneca (MedImmune), the developer of the anti-CD22 recombinant immunotoxin.

New research indicates that both a dependence on glycolysis and prior chemotherapy appear to reduce the potential for T cells to develop into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

A filgrastim (Neupogen) biosimilar, EP2006, recently produced safety results equivalent to those observed with referent filgrastim in a combined analysis of 2 phase III breast cancer studies from the United States and Europe.

The FDA has granted blinatumomab (Blincyto) an accelerated approval for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are in remission but still have minimal residual disease (MRD).

CE lesson worth 1 contact hour that is intended to advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, and other healthcare professionals who care for patients with cancer.

Nilotinib (Tasigna) was approved by the FDA for the first- and second-line treatment of pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP).

The FDA has approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for use as a frontline treatment, in combination with chemotherapy, for adult patients with stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Radiotherapy treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma may raise the risk of certain breast cancer subtypes, a study of data on women survivors from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries revealed.

Many adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of cancer end up "lost to follow-up," according to recent research. Nurses charged with patient education should take heed, and be sure to stress the importance of follow-up care to their AYA patients and their families.

Agios Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted a priority review designation to its targeted therapy, ivosidenib (AG-120), for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Exercise plays an important role in lymphoma survivorship, a recent study shows.

Daratumumab (Darzalex) in combination with bortezomib (Velcade), melphalan, and prednisone (VMP), has been granted a priority review designation by the FDA for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

The oldest known cases of multiple myeloma and breast cancer have been discovered in two Egyptian mummies which were found in the pharaonic necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa in Aswan, Egypt.

Impressive overall survival (OS) data from the phase III ENDEAVOR trial inspired the FDA to approve a supplemental new drug application to add it to the label for carfilzomib (Kyprolis) for use in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

A supplemental biologics license application for the CAR T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) has been granted a priority review by the FDA for use in adult patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are ineligible for or relapse after autologous stem cell transplant.

The FDA approved a new first-line treatment combination for patients with newly diagnosed low-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

Carfilzomib, commonly used to treat patients with multiple myeloma, may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Denosumab (Xgeva), a RANK ligand inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA for the prevention of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with multiple myeloma.

The duo of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab (Rituxan) is a combination that is feasible, safe and active as initial and maintenance therapy for use in patients with mantle cell lymphoma, according to a new study.

Seattle Genetics announced that a supplemental biologics license application for brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) used in combination with Adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine as a frontline treatment for advanced classical Hodgkin lymphoma has been granted a priority review by the FDA.

Based on findings from the phase III BFORE trial, the FDA has approved Bosutinib as a first-line treatment for a chronic myeloid leukemia subtype.

Using oral rivaroxaban (Xarelto) to treat patients with cancer reduced venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence in a select-d trial.

New trial results represent the first successful effort in more than 30 years to imrove outcomes of first-line treatment in patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).

A novel approach to the treatment of patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) produced durable results in a phase II trial.