Hematology Frontier

The 29th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Meeting took place from June 13-16, 2024, in Madrid, Spain. At this prestigious event, Professor Huilai Zhang's team from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital presented several research studies in poster sessions, highlighting the clinical features, genetic variations, and histological grading of follicular lymphoma. Their work offers a deeper understanding of the disease. Additionally, Professor Zhang's team delved into the epidemiological characteristics and prognosis of primary gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma, providing new insights for diagnosing and treating this rare disease. In the field of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) treatment, their study on the Orelabrutinib-Lenalidomide-Rituximab regimen brings new hope to patients. Of particular note is their research on the impact of CD58 genetic alterations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which enhances our understanding of the tumor immune microenvironment and suggests new approaches for personalized treatment. To provide a comprehensive overview of these research findings,Oncology Frontier - Hematology Frontier invited Professor Huilai Zhang to share the details.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has a reliable prognostic scoring system during the chronic phase, but blast phase (BP) lacks comprehensive analysis of prognostic factors or standardized scoring systems. Despite the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), outcomes for BP patients remain poor. From June 13 to 16, 2024, the 29th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Congress was held in Madrid, Spain. At the congress, based on data from CML-BP patients diagnosed across multiple countries, the European Leukemia Network established a prognostic scoring system for BP-CML, clearly stratifying CML-BP patients into three distinct survival groups. Hematology Frontier is honored to feature commentary from Professor Bingcheng Liu, Director of the Leukemia Diagnosis and Treatment Center at the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, on this study.

The treatment journey for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) is fraught with challenges due to its heterogeneity, hematopoietic failure, complications, and transformation risks, all of which significantly complicate therapy. Notably, the 29th Annual Meeting of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2024), held from June 13 to 16, 2024, showcased significant progress in the field of MDS treatment. In this issue of "Oncology Frontier - Hematology Frontier," we have invited Professor Zonghong Shao from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital to provide an in-depth introduction and commentary on key research in the MDS treatment domain. We hope Professor Shao's insightful sharing will reveal the latest developments in the MDS field, aiding our colleagues in grasping the forefront of treatment and jointly seeking better therapeutic options for MDS patients.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) is a type of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) characterized by both the rapid progression of aggressive lymphomas and the incurability of indolent lymphomas, resulting in generally poor prognosis. At the recent "2024 Nanjing Lymphoma Forum," Professor Zhitao Ying from the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences delivered an enlightening lecture titled "Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma." This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current treatment landscape and emerging strategies for improving outcomes in MCL, as presented by Professor Ying.

Currently, the field of pediatric leukemia treatment faces numerous challenges, particularly in predicting relapse risk and developing treatment strategies for relapsed and refractory patients. At the upcoming 29th European Hematology Association (2024 EHA) Annual Meeting, several studies from Professor Xiaofan Zhu’s team from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences have been selected. Two studies on pediatric leukemia delve into these critical issues, providing important academic references for further optimizing pediatric leukemia diagnosis and treatment. To better understand these latest research advances, this issue of "Oncology Frontier - Hematology Frontier" features a detailed interpretation by Professor Xiaofan Zhu.

The Phase II multicenter clinical trial (CHESS chemo-less, NCT04624958) aims to explore the efficacy and safety of zanubrutinib combined with rituximab followed by a short course of cytarabine-based chemotherapy, then maintained with zanubrutinib in newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients. The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting was grandly held in Chicago from May 31 to June 4. The study results of "Zanubrutinib Combined with Rituximab Followed by Short Course R-DHAOx Therapy in MCL Patients: Phase II CHESS Clinical Trial" were presented as a poster. Hematology Frontier invited the first author of the study, Professor Qingqing Cai from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, to interpret the study and share insights into the progress in MCL diagnosis and treatment.

The 29th Annual Meeting of the European Hematology Association (EHA 2024) will be grandly held in Madrid, Spain, from June 13 to 16, 2024! As an international event in the field of hematology, EHA 2024 gathers top hematology experts worldwide to share and discuss the latest research findings in hematology. This issue features a research report from Director Shuangyou Liu’s team at Beijing Gaobo Boren Hospital, detailing the five-year follow-up results of CD19 and CD22 CAR-T combined therapy for relapsed acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Numerous studies have confirmed the clinical value of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer patients. However, the cardiotoxicity and hematologic adverse reactions associated with high-dose chemotherapy remain significant clinical challenges. Recently, the ESMO BC 2024 conference released the 10-year follow-up results of the PANTHER trial, an important study on the treatment of high-risk early breast cancer. This study revealed the efficacy differences between dose-dense tailored adjuvant chemotherapy and standard adjuvant chemotherapy, providing in-depth insights into the response of key subgroups. Oncology Frontier invited Professor Wenyan Chen from Nanchang People's Hospital to elaborate on the background, findings, clinical significance, and implications of this research.

Studies have found that metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene mutations progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) more quickly, significantly affecting overall survival. Previous research has shown that the combination of olaparib with abiraterone and prednisone significantly improves survival in mCRPC patients. At this year's ASCO Annual Meeting, a study from Professor Hongqian Guo's team at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital analyzed this combined treatment strategy for mHSPC patients with HRR mutations for the first time. "Oncology Frontier" invited Professor Junlong Zhuang from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital to share the findings on-site.

Richter's transformation (RT), a complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. At the "2024 Nanjing Lymphoma Forum," Professor Lei Fan from Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital delivered an academic report titled "Research Progress in Richter's Transformation," covering the latest advancements in its definition, characteristics, molecular mechanisms, and treatment progress. Hematology Frontier had the privilege of interviewing Professor Fan, discussing the significance of the Nanjing Lymphoma Forum and his outlook on the diagnosis and treatment of Richter's transformation.