In this article from Blood Advances highlighted by helpful visual abstracts, two key points are discussed. First, patient-specific next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring using non-DTA mutations after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is independently prognostic for relapse and survival. Second, the kinetics rather than a single time point should be further evaluated when DTA mutations are used for MRD monitoring after alloHCT.

In this interview with Dr. Richard Furman, Professor of Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medicine, the importance of the CLL14 study is highlighted. In addition, Dr. Furman discusses the best use of venetoclax and whether anti-CD20 agents really add to the benefit of venetoclax treatment and whether a policy of watch and wait is still beneficial for all patients. 

In this Original Report from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the authors conducted a phase I trial of autologous CD19 CAR T cells in children and young adults (CAYAs) with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) to discover whether the role for allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (alloHSCT) following CD19-CAR T-cell therapy can improve long-term outcomes.

We touched on the “non-medical” books that should be on every doctor’s list in a previous newsletter; in this article, we’re directing you to the most important books on pandemics throughout history. As COVID-19 slows down in the US – but still rages on in other countries – it’s important to prepare yourself for what comes next and gather insights to best combat the unknown if and when it does arrive.

As millions of Americans get vaccinated, you may be being presented with many questions about what’s next and whether your patients – and you! – are going to need vaccine passports to begin traveling again. Educate yourself and your patients with these five pieces of knowledge on digital health and vaccine passport apps. Whether the interest is international or domestic travel, the information applies.

Published in Blood, this article presents initial findings from a proof-of-concept study led by Martin Wermke, MD, from the Technical University of Dresden in Germany. The UniCAR platform uses targeting molecule TM123 and a single-chain variable fragment that is directed against the CD123 antigen, offering a potential new treatment option for patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).