LEUKEMIAS

The IDH2 inhibitor AG-221 has demonstrated promising response rates in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and other hematologic malignancies.

The combination of ibrutinib with bendamustin plus rituximab (BR) demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared with BR alone in patients with pretreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Treatment with the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib could enhance the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy without increasing toxicity for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Venetoclax (GDC-0199/ABT-199), a Bcl-2 inhibitor, has been granted a breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The designation is specific to those patients who harbor a 17p deletion (del[17p]).

Topline findings from the phase III COMPLEMENT 2 study indicated that treatment with ofatumumab (Arzerra) plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide alone in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy JCAR017 elicited a 91% complete remission rate in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Progression on treatment with ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was associated with pretreatment BCL6 abnormalities, acquired mutations in BTK and PLCG2, and complex karyotypes.

Combination therapy with ibrutinib plus bendamustine and rituximab significantly extended progression-free survival compared with BR alone in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma enrolled in the phase III HELIOS trial.

Cytogenetic and molecular data are becoming increasingly important in the individualization of treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Experts on hematologic malignancies will convene for the 19th Annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies, from February 20-21 in Miami, Florida, to provide insight into recent developments in the treatment of the diseases.

Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) showed promising activity in heavily pretreated, relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

The FDA has granted a Fast Track Designation to CPX-351, a liposomal formulation of cytarabine and daunorubicin, for the treatment of elderly patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

ASCO named the improved outlook for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as its inaugural “Cancer Advance of the Year.”

Jae Park, MD, assistant attending physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Treatment with nilotinib (Tasigna) in combination with chemotherapy elicited complete hematological remissions (CHR) in 87% of elderly patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL).

The anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy CTL019 demonstrated a 92% complete response (CR) rate in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The anti-CD19 immunotherapy blinatumomab (Blincyto) has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), based on findings from a phase II trial.

Marcel R.M. van den Brink, MD, PhD, Head, Division of Hematologic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses two abstracts being presented at ASH looking at CAR T cell therapies for the treatment of ALL and NHL.

The FDA has granted the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy JCAR015 a breakthrough therapy designation as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

As its CAR T cell and high-affinity TCR products continue to advance in clinical trials, Juno Therapeutics, Inc, filed a registration statement for an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock on November 17.

The monoclonal antibody cirmtuzumab, currently in clinical trials to treat CLL, targets ROR1 on the surface of cancerous B cells, and the agent may have a wider reach in the treatment of ovarian and other cancers.

Recent news stories profiling a cancer patient whose last hope rests on treatment by injections of the virus that causes AIDS may have created some misconceptions regarding a new cancer immunotherapy.

When Gail J. Roboz, MD, took the stage Wednesday to give her talk on what’s ahead in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), she admitted feeling a little jealousy toward her colleagues in the lymphoid diseases.

The investigational chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy CTL019 elicited complete remissions in 27 of 30 pediatric and adult patients (90%) with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2 pilot trials.

The FDA has assigned a priority review designation to blinatumomab as a treatment for adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Julian Adams, PhD, president, Research and Development, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, discusses the rationale behind the DUO trial.

The bromodomain inhibitor, OTX015, may have use in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, including acute leukemia and other hematologic malignancies that include lymphomas and multiple myeloma.

The FDA has expanded the approval of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) to include the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one previous therapy and harbor a 17p deletion.

Jennifer Woyach, MD, assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the association of disease progression on ibrutinib therapy with the acquisition of resistance mutations as seen at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.