Leukemia

The FDA’s fast track designation for BST-236 to treat adults aged 75 years or older with acute myeloid leukemia, or who have comorbidities that prevent the use of intensive induction chemotherapy, may open the doors to an accelerated approval.

A patient assessment tool, known as the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Leukemia (FACT-Leu), was a viable and valid outcome measure for patients with acute myeloid leukemia not eligible for intensive therapy.

“Overall, the take-home point is that it's a small study so far and the follow-up time is still short, but it is pretty exciting preliminary data,” said Dr. Courtney DiNardo about the combination of Tibsovo plus Venclexta – with or without Vidaza – in IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia.

A three-drug treatment sparked complete responses in more than half of patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who also tolerated the regimen well.

“When time passes, and you look back it seems like a distant memory.”

“At 34, I have another chance to live the rest of my life with a consciousness that there's great purpose in the pain.”

From a care team giving a patient with metastatic breast cancer a taste of Paris after a planned trip had to be canceled to a local group of veterans honoring one of their own after a lung cancer diagnosis, here’s what’s making the headlines in the cancer space this week.

“If I only have one tool to treat the disease, I will play with that tool in many different ways. But if I have access to four different tools, then I will give up tool (number) one if I don't feel it's working,” explained Dr. Mazyar Shadman of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, about his approach to treating high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia in an interview with CURE®.

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.