LEUKEMIAS

Midostaurin (Rydapt) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed <em>FLT3</em>-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in combination with standard cytarabine and daunorubicin induction and cytarabine consolidation.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who stopped treatment with ibrutinib due to toxicities had longer survival than those who discontinued for other reasons, including progression and Richter transformation, according to the results of a recently published study.

The investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor quizartinib is extremely promising as a monotherapy for patients with <em>FLT3-ITD&ndash;</em>positive relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

Richard M. Stone, MD, discusses what is currently understood regarding the genetic landscape in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Andrew Wei, MBBS, PhD, discusses&nbsp;a study which explored the safety and efficacy of the novel BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax in combination with low-dose cytarabine chemotherapy for treatment-na&iuml;ve patients over the age of 65 with AML.

Mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (<em>IDH1/2</em>) are not the mutations commonly found in cancer cells, according to a presentation from the 2017 AACR Annual Meeting.

Sudipto Mukherjee, MD, assistant staff, Gaussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, discusses a study exploring eltrombopag to enhance platelet count recovery in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The FDA has granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) supporting the conversion of the accelerated approval of blinatumomab (Blincyto) to a full approval as a treatment for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Tisagenlecleucel-T (CTL019) has been granted a priority review designation by the FDA as a treatment for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Subcutaneous rituximab has received the FDA&rsquo;s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) unanimous (11-0) recommended approval for the treatment of patients with certain blood cancers.

Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD, discusses results of the&nbsp;phase II ELIANA study&nbsp;and the next steps with CAR T-cell therapy in ALL.

Adding ublituximab to ibrutinib significantly improved objective response rates (ORR) compared with ibrutinib alone for patients with previously treated high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia .

Clinical holds on several phase I trials of vadastuximab talirine in acute myeloid leukemia have been lifted by the FDA.

Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, director of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, discusses novel agents under investigation for the treatment of chronic&nbsp;lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

A new drug application for enasidenib has been granted a priority review by the FDA as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory <em>IDH2</em>-mutated acute myeloid leukemia.

The anti-CD22 antibody-drug conjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin has been granted a priority review designation&nbsp;by the FDA for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory ALL.

A full regulatory approval is being sought for blinatumomab as a treatment for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative relapsed/refractory B-precursor ALL.

Philadelphia chromosome Ph&ndash;like acute lymphoblastic leukemia accounts for more than 20% of all adult patients with ALL and is associated with a poor outcome, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Lead study author Jennifer A. Woyach, MD, discusses a phase II trial of MOR208, which includes cohorts of patients with relapsed/refractory CLL, treatment-na&iuml;ve disease, Richter&rsquo;s transformation, and those with CLL who have been treated with ibrutinib.

Several phase I trials of vadastuximab talirine in acute myeloid leukemia have been placed on hold by the FDA, according to Seattle Genetics, the manufacturer of the antibody-drug conjugate.

Jennifer Woyach, MD, associate professor, Ohio State University, discusses a study combining MOR208 with Lenalidomide for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).&nbsp;

According to recent study findings, the investigational BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib was shown to be well-tolerated and effective in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) who display intolerance to ibrutinib (Imbruvica).

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) has announced that Paul M. Sondel, MD, PhD, will receive the 2017 Richard V. Smalley, MD Memorial Lectureship Award.

Treatment with the BTK inhibitor BGB-3111 had an objective response rate (ORR) of 96% for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL).

Combining the PI3 kinase inhibitor TGR-1202 and ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) demonstrated a high response rate without dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs).

The CAR T-cell therapy CTL019 demonstrated an 82% complete remission or CR with incomplete blood count recovery rate for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

With treatment for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia remaining essentially unchanged over the last 4 decades, researchers are hopeful that the addition of the investigational agent vadastuximab talirine to standard 7+3 induction therapy may improve survival for these patients.&nbsp;

TKIs can safely be stopped or dose-reduced without jeopardizing long-term outcomes for select patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who have obtained a major molecular response.

Anti-CD22 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy induced an 80% complete remission rate among children and young adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Miguel Perales, MD, deputy chief, Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service, and director, Adult Bone Marrow Transplantation Fellowship Program, gives an overview of the PROGRESS II trial in&nbsp;acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome during the ASH Annual Meeting.