The American Society of Hematology’s annual meeting provides an excellent opportunity to discover recent developments in the field. The staff of Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center’s Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology finds these 10 abstracts the most compelling, clinically relevant and potentially transformative to the practice:
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Late-Breaking Abstract No. 2
This study details the first randomized trial to show a clear progression-free and overall survival benefit to venetoclax (V) instead of bendamustine (B) when used in combination with rituximab (R) for relapsed CLL. Tolerability was favorable with only one event of clinical tumor lysis syndrome in each arm. High rates of minimal residual disease (MRD) negative state were achieved (83.5% in VR vs 23.1% with BR). These data are the best example of the superiority of targeted therapy for CLL when compared head-to-head against conventional chemotherapy.
Late-Breaking Abstract No. 4
In a randomized phase 3 trial of 706 patients with multiple myeloma who were ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation, addition of daratumumab to VMP doubled the odds of achieving progression-free survival compared to VMP alone (72% vs 50% at 18 months). This increase in progression-free survival was attributed to more patients achieving deeper responses as evidenced by a higher rate of MRD negativity in the D-VMP arm.
Late-Breaking Abstract No. 6
This study demonstrated that an oral FXa inhibitor, edoxaban, was noninferior to the low-molecular-weight heparin dalteparin in terms of efficacy and safety in cancer patients with thrombosis.
Abstract 2
In this study, the authors use a KIT inhibitor in 30 heavily pretreated patients with systemic mastocytosis, and show that the majority of patients have reductions in serum tryptase levels, spleen size and D816 allele burden, along with regression in skin lesions.
Abstract 15
This study is the first report of a new therapy, anti-FcRn antibodies, in patients with primary persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). These antibodies prevent recycling of IgG immune complexes and reduce autoantibody levels. Clinically significant improvements in the platelet count occurred in 40 to 50 percent of generally extensively pretreated ITP patients.
Abstract 160
A Personalized Prediction Model to Risk-Stratify Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
In this study, Cleveland Clinic’s Aziz Nazha, MD, applies machine learning to 925 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, incorporating both clinical and molecular factors. His system is able to predict survival at any time during a patient’s disease course and regardless of therapy more accurately than any other existing prognostic system. Learn more here.
Abstract 603
This study demonstrated persistent and prolonged responses to Bmn 270, an adenovirus 5-FVIII gene therapy, with marked increases in the FVIII level, significant reductions in bleeding and minimal liver inflammation.
Abstract 625
This study demonstrated that the oral FXa inhibitor rivaroxaban was equivalent to dalteparin in terms of prevention of recurrent events in cancer patients with thrombosis. Rivaroxaban was also associated with an increased risk of clinically relevant non-major bleeding.
Abstract 725
In this study of 258 patients with mutated IDH1, 125 of whom had relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia, the overall response rate was 30.4 percent, and response duration was 6.5 months. The drug was well tolerated. This is the first study to target this molecular mutation seen in approximately 6 to 10 percent of AML patients.
Abstract 740
A multi-center phase I study of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeted towards B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) showed overall response rate of 89 percent in 21 patients with heavily treated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Other preclinical and clinical studies presented at the meeting also reported significant activity of BCMA CAR-T infusions in relapsed/refractory myeloma.
First-of-its-kind research investigates the viability of standard screening to reduce the burden of late-stage cancer diagnoses
Study demonstrates ability to reduce patients’ reliance on phlebotomies to stabilize hematocrit levels
Findings highlight an association between obesity and an increased incidence of moderate-severe disease
Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute takes multi-faceted approach to increasing clinical trial access
Gene editing technology offers promise for treating multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies, as well as solid tumors
Study of 401,576 patients reveals differences in cancer burdens as well as overall survival
Enfortumab plus pembrolizumab reduced risk of death by 53% compared with platinum-based chemotherapy