Articles related to Hematology/Oncology

These evidence-based guidelines of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) are intended to support patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals in their decisions about the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE)  – a common complication among patients with cancer who are at a markedly increased risk for morbidity and mortality.

This article presents a review and commentary of selected presentations from the all-virtual 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting and Exposition, which took place in December 2020. Coverage includes safety and efficacy results in trials of acalabrutinib, venetoclax, obinutuzumab, rituximab, LOXO-305, idelalisib, bendamustine, umbralisib, ublituximab, chlorambucil, lisocabtagene maraleucel, and others. 

This fascinating case of a 61-year-old male in the UK is the only report so far regarding COVID-19 induced cancer remission. Ridden with stage 3 Hodgkin lymphoma, the COVID-19 infected patient was hospitalized for 11 days but did not receive any cancer treatments. Four months later, PET-CT scans show the lymphoma largely gone. How did this happen and what are the implications for new treatments?

From the pages of Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology comes this Q&A with Jennifer A. Woyach, MD, a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Woyach provides extensive commentary on BTK, BCL2, and PI3K inhibitors, FCR usage, and the importance of clinical trials when treating patients with CLL.

In June 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to tazemetostat (Tazverik, Epizyme), an oral EZH2 inhibitor for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (FL). Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology takes a closer look at this new treatment through a conversation with Dr. Connie Lee Batlevi from MSKCC.

The possible answer was presented during the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting, bringing into question whether current recommendations for prophylactic intravenous high-dose methotrexate — the most widely adopted method for CNS relapse prevention — are appropriate for all patients at high risk of a CNS relapse.