Hematology Frontier

In June 2024, Blood Science published a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Hui Zeng and colleagues from the The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University , focusing on the role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase 1 (HMGCS1) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is a severe hematological malignancy characterized by the rapid proliferation of immature white blood cells, leading to significant dysfunction in the blood and bone marrow. Despite advancements in treatment, relapsed and refractory (RR) AML continues to pose a significant clinical challenge with a poor prognosis, emphasizing the need for novel therapeutic targets to enhance patient outcomes.

Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma with extramedullary disease (EMD) represent some of the most formidable challenges in hematology. These conditions often carry a bleak prognosis due to their resistance to conventional therapies and the complex nature of extramedullary disease, where cancer cells spread outside the bone marrow. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for these malignancies, offering hope where few options existed. However, even with CAR-T cell therapy, patients with EMD have experienced limited success, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to improve outcomes.

At this year’s European Hematology Association (EHA) conference, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Swaminathan P iyer, Professor of Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center, about the groundbreaking phase I study on ELA26 for secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Dr. Iyer shared the promising data from the treatment-naive cohort, which showed a remarkable 100% response rate by two months, offering new hope to patients dealing with this life-threatening complication. As HLH has a high mortality rate, with most patients unable to receive adequate malignancy treatment due to complications, this study opens new doors for future integration with chemotherapy.

In April 2024, the journal Blood Science published an important study led by Dr. Gang An and colleagues from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, investigating the use of subcutaneous daratumumab in Chinese patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). Multiple myeloma is a challenging hematological malignancy characterized by the proliferation of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Despite significant advances in treatment, many patients experience relapse or develop resistance to existing therapies, necessitating new and more effective approaches.

In a recent Hematology Frontier interview, Dr. Michael Wang shared insights from the EHA Late Breaker Plenary Session, where the pivotal ECHO clinical trial was discussed. the study is leading to breakthroughs in lymphoma care. The promising combination of BR + Acalabrutinib shows potential to improve outcomes, especially for older patients. This could pave the way for better therapies globally!

From September 13th to 17th, the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting was held in Barcelona, Spain. As one of the world's top oncology conferences, it brought together experts and scholars from across the globe to share cutting-edge research findings and discuss future directions. At the session dedicated to hematologic malignancies, Dr. Junyuan Qi from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, presented the first-in-human study of the BCL-2 inhibitor TQB3909 in relapsed or refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), showing promising results. Hematology Frontier invited Professor Qi to provide an in-depth analysis of the study and discuss the future clinical applications and research directions for this novel BCL-2 inhibitor.

From September 13th to 17th, the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting was held in Barcelona, Spain. As one of the top international conferences in the oncology field, it brought together experts and scholars from around the world to share cutting-edge research findings and discuss future development directions. At this year's conference, a study led by Dr. Peng Liu's team from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, was selected for a Mini Oral presentation, which was delivered on-site by Dr. Jiadai Xu. The study explored a chemotherapy-free first-line treatment approach for marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), with preliminary results proving promising. Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Xu for an in-depth discussion on the study and her expectations for the future of this treatment approach and research plans.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a treatment option for adult acute leukemia in remission. Compared to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), ASCT has advantages such as no donor restrictions, absence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and a lower transplant-related mortality rate. At the recent "4th Shanghai Symposium on the Clinical Application of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation," Dr. Aimang Pang from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, delivered an insightful presentation on the "Tianjin Model" for ASCT in treating acute leukemia. The highlights of the presentation are summarized here for our readers.

From September 6th to 8th, 2024, the 5th Tianjin International Lymphoma Academic Conference was successfully held. The conference featured 12 thematic sessions covering topics such as immunotherapy, translational research, and new drug development, creating a platform for promoting international academic exchange and collaboration. During the event, Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Ou Bai from The First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University to discuss the content of the Greater China region BTK Inhibitor Consensus on indolent lymphomas.

The 11th Sino-French Hematology Academic Conference, organized by the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, recently took place in Tianjin, drawing hundreds of leading experts and scholars in the field of hematology from around the world. During the conference, Hematology Frontier invited Dr. He Huang from The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Dr. Didier Blaise from the Hematology Institute of Aix-Marseille University in France to engage in a dialogue on the challenges and opportunities in new cellular therapies for hematologic malignancies. Here are the key insights from their conversation.