Articles related to CLINICAL TRIALS

Patients with T-LL had significantly improved EFS and OS with bortezomib on the AALL1231 backbone. Systemic therapy intensification allowed elimination of CRT in more than 90% of patients with T-ALL without excess relapse. There was no difference in rates of receiving CRT.

A randomized trial showed no significant difference in the rate of invasive melanoma between patients taking daily aspirin and those taking a placebo. There were slightly fewer melanoma events in the aspirin group than in the placebo group — 177 and 189, respectively — but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (hazard ratio [HR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.77-1.16; P =.58). Similarly, there were slightly fewer invasive melanoma events in the aspirin group than in the placebo group — 76 and 94, respectively — but the between-group difference was not significant (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.60-1.10; P =.18).

The authors analyzed a cohort of nearly 5,000 patients with AML for the prevalence and prognostic impact of IDH mutations and found distinct clinical and co-mutational features of the IDH1-R132C mutation. The study identified variable outcomes associated with distinct mutations of IDH and offers additional evidence in support of delineating the IDH2-R172K mutation as a distinct entity based on its co-mutational landscape and significant impact on outcome.

Both immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and VEGF receptor inhibitors are approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treatment and can cause cardiovascular events (CVs). This randomized study of avelumab plus axitinib vs. sunitinib used prospective monitoring of LVEF and serum cardiac biomarkers to assess for the development of major adverse CV events. The results indicate patients with high baseline troponin T levels and who receive combination ICI and VEGF receptor inhibitor therapy should be monitored closely for adverse cardiac events.

This “Clinical Trials & Observations” report from Blood Advances (ASH)  explores the implications of the recently approved anemia treatment luspatercept, which can now be prescribed in the second-line setting after erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have failed or for patients who are not eligible because of high serum erythropoietin (sEPO) levels. A downloadable visual abstract helps paint the picture as well.