In Focus: Blood cancer
Numerous advancements have been made in treatment options for hematologic malignancies, with a big emphasis on precision medicine. As the field moves forwards with a stronger focus on individualized care, more questions are arising about how we can better identify minimal residual disease, reduce toxicity and identify molecular targets in subsets of patients; in order to better understand which patients need more or less therapy or a different treatment regime.
In this In Focus, we explore the latest developments and emerging concepts in the field of hematologic malignancies through discussions with experts in the field, infographics which provide visual snapshots of the disease as well as informative opinion pieces and patient perspectives. You can find links to all this and more below, where we’ve collated our top hematologic oncology content from the past year keep you up-to-date in this ever-moving field.
Exclusive clinical trial insights
We recently spoke with a key study investigator of the multiple myeloma ENDEAVOR trial to explore the trial in more detail and to discover the potential clinical application of its overall survival findings.
Discover overall survival data from the ENDEAVOR trial: an interview with Meletios A. Dimopoulos
Video content
This year we had the pleasure of interviewing prominent figures in the field, from researchers such as George Vassiliou (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK) who studies the genes and genetic pathways involved in the development of blood cancers; to patient advocates such as Chris Lewis (Chris’s Cancer Community) who describes his experience with lymphoma; to the research director of Anthony Nolan, a pioneering charity that blood stem cell/bone marrow donors to individuals with blood cancer and blood disorders who require lifesaving transplants.
Advancing stem cell transplantation – an interview with the Scientific Director of Anthony Nolan
Uncovering the genetics of cancer – an interview with George Vassiliou
A diagnosis of lymphoma: Chris Lewis’s story
Recovery and support after a stem cell transplant: an interview with Amelia Chong
Journal articles
Pharmacogenomics in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: promises and limitations
In this review, gaps and limitations in pharmacogenomics in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia are emphasized, which may provide a useful guide for future research design.
Future prospects of therapeutic clinical trials in acute myeloid leukemia
What are the current limitation with clinical trials for AML? This review discusses trial end points, patient enrollment, cost of drug discovery and patient heterogeneity and future treatment of AML.
Discover more in our partnered journal the International Journal of Hematologic Oncology.
Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms: a disease in need of recognition
Discover the current definitions, classifications, treatment options and prognosis for myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Diagnostic and treatment of adult Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia
In this review article from the International Journal of Hematologic Oncology read about the clinical benefits of utilizing tyrosine kinase inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy regimes for Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.
Top news from 2017
T cells lacking HDAC11 enzyme may destroy tumor cells more effectively
Researchers demonstrate a previously undefined role of histone deacetylase 11 (HDAC11), in regulating T-cell effector functions.
Researchers identify novel way to target chemo-resistance leukaemia cells
A group of researchers uncovered a link between chemo-resistance in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and the protein 5T4; early-testing indicates that targeting the protein could help improve treatment outcomes. We spoke with the study lead to provide you with exclusive details of the study and its potential clinical application –listen to the interview here.
Research gives new hope to patients undergoing stem cell transplants
A study from leading charity Anthony Nolan highlighted the roles of donor age and virus status have in patient survival following transplantation.
Clinical trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia produces ‘outstanding’ result
Scientists report long-term follow up studies from a clinical trial involving patients with previously untreatable forms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Research sheds light on immunotherapy efficacy variations
Research suggested that a signaling lymphocytic activation molecule contributes to differences in immunotherapy efficacy in hematopoietic tumors.
Research suggests RUNX1 may have oncogenic function in acute myeloid leukemia
Researchers demonstrated that transcription factor RUNX1, which has known tumor-suppressor function, may induce acute myeloid leukemia in cooperation with FLT3. Want to find out whether FLT3 inhibitors likely to improve FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia in the foreseeable future? Read this editorial from our partnered journal the International Journal of Hematologic Oncology.
Potential therapeutic targets discovered in myelodysplasia syndromes
Researchers discovered that overexpression of the protein TRAF6 is a driver of myelodysplasia syndromes and have used this to identify possible new molecular targets.
