Hematology Frontier

Extramedullary disease (EMD), an aggressive manifestation of multiple myeloma, presents longstanding challenges in clinical management, including substantial biological heterogeneity, difficulties in diagnosis and response assessment, resistance to conventional therapies, and a lack of high-level evidence from clinical trials. During the 2026 Cross-Strait Hematology Conference, Prof. Cai Zhen of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine spoke with Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier about the key challenges of EMD, including target antigen escape, an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and difficulties in imaging-based response assessment. He also reviewed the latest advances and evolving treatment strategies involving bispecific antibodies, CAR-T-cell therapy, and novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), providing authoritative and cutting-edge clinical insights into improving outcomes for patients with this high-risk disease subtype.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is highly heterogeneous and associated with poor prognosis, making the selection of an optimal first-line consolidation strategy a persistent clinical challenge. How can clinicians pursue deeper remission while balancing the graft-versus-lymphoma effect against the risk of non-relapse mortality? This lies at the heart of the clinical decision between autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. During the 2026 Cross-Strait Hematology Conference, Prof. Wang Liang from Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, spoke with Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier about the positioning and selection of autologous versus allogeneic transplantation for first-line consolidation in PTCL based on evidence from evidence-based medicine. He also discussed prospectively how cellular immunotherapy may reshape future treatment paradigms.

Cellular immunotherapies such as CAR-T therapy are rapidly evolving, progressing from single-target and dual-target approaches to armored CAR-T cells, in vivo CARs, and other next-generation technologies that continue to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. The 2026 Cross-Strait Hematology Academic Conference was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong, on August 21–22. During the conference, Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier interviewed Professor Huang He from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine for an in-depth discussion on advances in novel cellular immunotherapies and their clinical translation. Drawing on his team's original research, Professor Huang systematically discussed key strategies for enhancing CAR-T cytotoxicity, overcoming the bottlenecks of universal manufacturing, and reducing treatment costs, providing a clear roadmap for translating next-generation cellular therapies into clinical practice.

In the golden autumn season, experts and scholars gathered in Zhuhai. The 2026 Cross-Strait Hematology Academic Conference was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong, from August 21–22. Hematology experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as Hong Kong and Macao, came together to discuss cutting-edge developments, clinical practice, and innovations in nursing. During the conference, Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier interviewed Professor Ma Jun of the Harbin Institute of Hematology and Oncology, who shared his perspectives on the rapidly developing field of cell and gene therapy (CGT). He reviewed the global and domestic landscape of approved cell therapy products, real-world clinical data, and China's strengths in innovation, while also discussing challenges related to original research and development, standardization, treatment accessibility, and the future of CGT.

Differential diagnosis of chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (CLPD) remains a major challenge in hematology. Given the blurred boundary between reactive lymphoid proliferation and clonal proliferation, as well as the substantial overlap in morphological and immunophenotypic features among different subtypes, avoiding misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis is of critical importance. During the 2026 Cross-Strait Hematology Academic Conference, Oncology Frontier – Hematology Frontier invited Professor Wei Xu of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital) to systematically explain the diagnostic approach integrating basic morphology, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, and molecular genetic testing. Professor Xu also provided an in-depth analysis of strategies for resolving challenging CLPD cases, offering authoritative guidance for clinicians to establish a standardized, multidimensional, and precise classification system for these disorders.

Editor's Note: In the golden autumn season, colleagues from across the mountains and seas gathered together. The 2026 Cross-Strait Hematology Academic Conference was held in Zhuhai, Guangdong, from August 21…

Medical progress is driven not only by clinical practice and scientific innovation, but also by cross-regional exchange, mutual learning, and the transmission of knowledge and experience. Looking back at the history of hematology collaboration among the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao—from the “seeds of life” transported across the Taiwan Strait to continuous breakthroughs in transplantation technology, and from exchanges among young physicians to deepening medical collaboration—each interaction has contributed to advances in diagnosis and treatment and enabled more patients to benefit from improved care.