Hematologic Cancers
By Phoebe Starr
Chicago, IL—A novel compound called CPX-351 that combines 2 older drugs (cytarabine and daunorubicin) in a new drug-delivery platform improved survival among older patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk (secondary) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to results of a phase 3 trial presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2016 Annual Meeting.
Read More ›The US Food and Drug Administration has approved nivolumab (Opdivo) for patients with classical Hodgkin Lymphoma that has progressed or relapsed following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and post-transplant brentuximab vedotin, according to an announcement by the agency. Notably, the intravenous drug was granted accelerated approval, and Breakthrough Therapy Designation. Read More ›
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often feel blindsided by their diagnosis, have trouble understanding their treatment choices, and suffer symptoms that are inadequately addressed. This is a patient population with sizable, and unmet, palliative care and psychosocial needs. Read More ›
Orlando, FL–New agents with novel targets have revolutionized management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, all drugs have risks and benefits. At the 57th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, 3 separate presentations highlighted toxicity concerns related to idelalisib, ibrutinib, and venetoclax: hepatotoxicity with idelalisib, drug–drug interactions with ibrutinib, and the need for careful dosing at initiation of venetoclax. Read More ›
An open-label, randomized, phase 2 study evaluated the all-oral triplet combination of ixazomib (an orally administered proteasome inhibitor) plus cyclophosphamide (at 2 different doses) and low-dose dexamethasone (ICd) as a 12-month induction therapy in previously untreated, transplant-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Read More ›
Presence of cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs) is considered to be an important prognostic factor in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), with some evidence suggesting that bortezomib-based combinations may overcome the poor prognosis associated with CAs, such as t(4;14), t(14;16), or deletion of 17p (del [17p]). Read More ›
Imatinib mesylate (IM) at 400 mg/day is the standard of care as first-line therapy in patients with newly diagnosed, chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). Based on evidence that patients with high imatinib trough levels achieved higher rates of major molecular response (MMR), the randomized OPTIM-imatinib trial was conducted to evaluate the value of imatinib dose optimization according to imatinib Cmin levels in newly diagnosed patients with CP-CML. Read More ›
Orlando, FL-Bacterial infections during induction chemotherapy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can largely be prevented with fluoroquinolone prophylaxis, according to a prospective, multicenter study from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) ALL Consortium. Read More ›
In contrast to current recommendations to continue tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy indefinitely, emerging evidence indicates that patients with sustained molecular responses (MRs) on imatinib therapy may achieve deep MRs and durable treatment-free remission with nilotinib in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). Read More ›
Ruxolitinib Reduces Spleen Size and Improves Disease-Related Symptoms in Patients with Lower-Risk MF
By Leslie Wyatt
Although there have been several trial-based studies on the use of ruxolitinib in patients with lower-risk myelofibrosis (MF), Keith L. Davis, MA, Senior Director of Health Economics at RTI Health Solutions and colleagues sought to conduct a study in the real-world setting. Read More ›