Leukemia

From the National Cancer Institute launching a nationwide study of patients with cancer who either have COVID-19 or are being tested for it to understand the disease to “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Batman and Robin” director Joel Schumacher passing away from cancer, here’s what’s making the headlines in the cancer space this week.

The phase 3 trial evaluating eprenetapopt plus Vidaza completed enrollment recently, and could lead to a new standard of care with positive results, according to Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended the indication of Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) to include the treatment of children aged one month or older with newly diagnosed CD33-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

From the American Cancer Society laying off 1,000 employees due to the economic impact of COVID-19 to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announcing his cancer is in remission after receiving an experimental treatment, here’s what’s making the headlines in the cancer space this week.

Here is a roundup of the latest news and updates for patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia from CURE.

“The superior efficacy of venetoclax-obinutuzumab has been observed and maintained in the current follow up,” Dr. Othman Al-Sawaf, of University Hospital of Cologne in Germany, said during a pre-recording presentation at the 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program.

“Collectively, these results support acalabrutinib (Calquence) use in upfront CLL,” said Dr. John C. Byrd. “This is compounded and supported by two additional phase III studies that have been completed with this agent.”

Results from an early-phase trial showed that cirmtuzumab plus Imbruvica is safe and efficacious in treating patients with relapsed/refractory MCL and CLL.

Understanding cancer means knowing it’s more than one disease.

Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Oncology Center of Excellence, has noted that the agency is committed to expediting oncology drug development despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients with blood cancers are facing unprecedented challenges to their treatment journeys as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the cancer landscape. Which is why the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is looking to offer its own lifeline to patients.

The Food and Drug Administration, under its global Project Orbis, approved the combination of Imbruvica and Rituxan for patients with CLL and SLL.

First validated prognostic score offers valuable insights for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who are prescribed active surveillance.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and other new drugs are improving outcomes for patients with CLL.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a unique challenge for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia, creating many questions that experts tried to answer in a recent webinar from The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation.

Two hematologist/oncologists on the LLS leadership team, and experts in the field of blood cancer, answer questions and concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19).

The COVID-19 pandemic's impact is being felt all throughout the cancer community, and experts from the CLL Society hosted a webinar to discuss the specific impacts of the pandemic on patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The COVID-19 pandemic will continue to alter how patients with cancer receive their treatment, and experts within the United States who saw the virus strike early are offering their advice to other hospitals just starting to feel the effects.

Patients with relapsed or refractory CD19-positive cancers experienced complete responses with no major side effects following treatment with CAR-NK cell therapy.

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia whose disease has relapsed or become resistant to treatment saw a benefit with a combination of Opdivo and Vidaza.

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia often have to undergo transplant during treatment but are susceptible to other side effects, but new research indicates that the use of immunotherapy after these treatments can improve patient outcomes.

Here are the latest highlights from the first CURE Hematology Special Edition issue for 2020.