Structural insight into CD20/CD3-bispecific antibodies by molecular modeling.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) remains a significant challenge in hematology, with chemotherapy and radiation therapy as conventional treatment options, albeit with limitations such as adverse effects. Immunotherapy, particularly bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) T cell engagers (TCEs), has emerged as a promising approach. Despite their potential, TCEs pose challenges, including adverse events like cytokine release syndrome.

Maintenance strategies for relapse prevention and treatment.

Posttransplant relapse is the most significant challenge in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). Posttransplant interventions, in conjunction with optimal conditioning regimens and donor selection, are increasingly supported by evidence for their potential to prolong patient survival by promoting antileukemia or graft-versus-leukemia effects. Our review begins by highlighting the current evidence supporting maintenance therapy for relapse prevention in acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Phase 2 study of epigenetic priming with decitabine followed by cytarabine for acute myeloid leukemia in older patients.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in older patients has a poor prognosis, low complete remission (CR) rates, and poor overall survival (OS). Preclinical studies have shown synergistic effects of epigenetic priming with hypomethylating agents followed by cytarabine. Based on these data, we hypothesized that an induction regimen using epigenetic priming with decitabine, followed by cytarabine would be effective and safe in older patients with previously untreated AML.

Results from a Real-World Multicenter Analysis of 482 Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Ibrutinib: A Look at Racial Differences.

Background: Despite recent approvals of lifesaving treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), real-world data on the tolerability of the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib for CLL treatment are lacking, especially in Black patients.

Objective: To expand upon a previously reported retrospective chart review of ibrutinib-treated patients with CLL to increase the number of sites and the enrollment period in first-line (1L) and relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings with a subanalysis based on ethnicity.

Patients And Methods: Adults with CLL who initiated ibrutinib treatment from five centers were followed for ≥ 6 months.

Phase 3 SELENE study: ibrutinib plus BR/R-CHOP in previously treated patients with follicular or marginal zone lymphoma.

The phase 3 SELENE study evaluated ibrutinib + chemoimmunotherapy (CIT; bendamustine and rituximab [BR]; or rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone [R-CHOP]) for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) or marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Adult patients who had received ≥1 prior line of CIT were randomized 1:1 to oral ibrutinib (560 mg) or placebo daily, plus 6 cycles of BR/R-CHOP. The primary end point was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS).

A phase 1b study of venetoclax and alvocidib in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

Relapsed/refractory (R/R) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a genetically complex and heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop therapeutic combinations to overcome drug resistance in AML. This open-label, multicenter, international, phase 1b study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of venetoclax in combination with alvocidib in patients with R/R AML.

Rates and Predictors of Nonadherence to the Post-Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Medical Regimen in Patients and Caregivers.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) requires a complex, multicomponent medical regimen after hospital discharge. Patients must manage multiple medications; care for their catheter; minimize exposure to sources of potential infection; follow diet, exercise, and self-care guidelines; and attend frequent follow-up medical appointments. Their caregivers are tasked with helping them manage the regimen.

Real-world ibrutinib dose reductions, holds and discontinuations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

A retrospective chart review of ibrutinib-treated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was conducted. Adults with CLL who initiated ibrutinib were followed for ≥6 months (n = 180). Twenty-five percent of first-line ibrutinib patients experienced ≥1 dose reduction, mainly due to adverse events (AEs; 79%).

6-month follow-up of VIALE-C demonstrates improved and durable efficacy in patients with untreated AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy (141/150).

VIALE-C compared the safety and efficacy of venetoclax or placebo plus low-dose cytarabine (+LDAC) in patients with untreated AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Overall, 211 patients were enrolled (n = 143, venetoclax; n = 68, placebo). At the primary analysis, the study did not meet its primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS), however, ~60% of patients had been on study for ≤6-months.

A prospective study of the use of central venous catheters in patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia treated with induction chemotherapy.

Purpose: Central venous catheters (CVCs) are widely used in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Complications associated with CVCs are frequently encountered and contribute to morbidity and mortality. Prospective studies investigating and comparing complications of different types of CVCs in AML patients and their effects on the quality of life are limited.

Novel agents and regimens for hematological malignancies: recent updates from 2020 ASH annual meeting.

Antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cells (CAR-T) are increasingly used for cancer immunotherapy. Small molecule inhibitors targeting cellular oncoproteins and enzymes such as BCR-ABL, JAK2, Bruton tyrosine kinase, FLT3, BCL-2, IDH1, IDH2, are biomarker-driven chemotherapy-free agents approved for several major hematological malignancies. LOXO-305, asciminib, "off-the-shelf" universal CAR-T cells and BCMA-directed immunotherapeutics as well as data from clinical trials on many novel agents and regimens were updated at the 2020 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting.

Outcomes of Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Who Relapse After 5 Years of Complete Remission.

Leukemia relapse 5 years after achieving first complete remission (CR1) is uncommon in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we evaluated the outcomes of AML patients with late relapse at our institution and reviewed the literature for these patients. The study cohort consisted of nine AML patients with late relapse.

Venetoclax Combined With Low-Dose Cytarabine for Previously Untreated Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results From a Phase Ib/II Study.

Purpose: Effective treatment options are limited for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy. An international phase Ib/II study evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of venetoclax, a selective B-cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 inhibitor, together with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) in older adults with AML.

Patients And Methods: Adults 60 years or older with previously untreated AML ineligible for intensive chemotherapy were enrolled.

Ibrutinib as Treatment for Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma: Results From the Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase II DAWN Study.

Purpose The Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib has demonstrated clinical activity in B-cell malignancies. The DAWN study assessed the efficacy and safety of single-agent ibrutinib in chemoimmunotherapy relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. Methods DAWN was an open-label, single-arm, phase II study of ibrutinib in patients with FL with two or more prior lines of therapy.

Phase 1 clinical trial of adoptive immunotherapy using "off-the-shelf" activated natural killer cells in patients with refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

Background Aims: Activated NK cells (aNK) generated by expansion of a human interleukin-2-dependent NK cell line (NK-92) were shown to mediate strong anti-leukemia activity. This phase 1 study evaluated feasibility, safety, and activity of aNK cells adoptively transferred to patients with refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In addition, effects of these aNK cells on the patient's immune system were evaluated.

Outcomes of patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after solid organ transplantation.

Organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk for subsequent cancer including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Treatment of AML following solid transplantation represents a clinical challenge as most patients have significant comorbidities at the time of AML diagnosis. In this study, we evaluated the treatment and outcomes of patients who developed AML following solid organ transplantation at our institution and reviewed the literature on outcomes for these patients.