Top 5 Takeaways From EHA 2026 That Patients Should Know

The 2026 European Hematology Association Congress, held June 11 through 14 in Stockholm, Sweden, brought together hematology specialists from around the world to share new data across multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Several studies stood out for their potential to change how blood cancers are treated. Here are five takeaways patients and caregivers should know.

1. A new combination may raise the bar in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma

Adding Talvey (talquetamab) to Darzalex (daratumumab), with or without Pomalyst (pomalidomide), significantly improved progression-free survival compared with Darzalex, Pomalyst and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Researchers said the data support using talquetamab with daratumumab, with or without pomalidomide, as a new standard of care for these patients as early as their first relapse.

What patients should know: This applies to patients with multiple myeloma that has returned after an earlier line of treatment. Patients in this situation should ask their oncologist whether this combination, rather than standard regimens, is appropriate for their specific relapse.

2. Treating myeloma earlier, before symptoms appear, may lead to deeper remissions

Late-breaking data from the phase 2 ImmunoPRISM trial showed Tecvayli (teclistamab) was superior to Revlimid (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone in high-risk smoldering myeloma, with higher complete response rates and longer progression-free survival. The trial moved Tecvayli into smoldering disease, a premalignant state with a high risk of progressing to active multiple myeloma, using minimal residual disease and progression-free survival as endpoints.

What patients should know: This research is aimed at people with smoldering myeloma, not yet active disease. Anyone diagnosed with this precursor condition should talk to a hematologist about monitoring and whether early treatment trials might apply to them.

3. A targeted pill may help more leukemia patients reach remission earlier

Upfront Komzifti (ziftomenib) combined with intensive 7+3 induction chemotherapy in newly diagnosed NPM1-mutated or KMT2A-rearranged acute myeloid leukemia delivered composite complete remission rates of roughly 90% to 96%, with more than 80% of patients reaching minimal residual disease negativity, supporting further validation in a randomized trial.

What patients should know: This applies to patients newly diagnosed with AML carrying specific gene changes. Patients should ask whether genetic testing has identified an NPM1 mutation or KMT2A rearrangement, since that result could open the door to this targeted approach.

4. New lymphoma data may guide treatment for high-risk follicular lymphoma

A subgroup analysis from the phase 3 EPCORE FL-1 trial examined the effect of adding Epkinly (epcoritamab) to Revlimid and Rituxan (rituximab) in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing blood cancer.

What patients should know: Subgroup data can help identify which patients benefit most from a given combination. Patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma should ask their care team whether their disease characteristics match those of patients who responded best in this analysis.

5. CAR-T therapy data may extend benefit to younger leukemia patients with residual disease

Researchers presented findings on Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel), a CAR-T cell therapy, in pediatric and young adult patients with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who still had minimal residual disease after completing frontline chemotherapy.

What patients should know: Minimal residual disease, meaning small amounts of leukemia cells detectable only through sensitive testing, can signal a higher risk of relapse. Families of pediatric and young adult patients in this situation should ask whether Kymriah could be considered before relapse occurs, rather than after.

References

1. "From Conference to Practice: Top 5 Takeaways From EHA 2026." CancerNetwork, June 2026.
2. "INDEPENDENCE, Type II JAK Inhibitor Data Highlight Key MPN and AML Data Arriving at EHA 2026." OncLive, June 2026.
3. "An Early Look at EHA 2026: 10 Key Studies Heading to Stockholm." Targeted Oncology, June 2026.
4. "European Hematology Association Congress." OncLive, June 2026.
5. "EHA: European Hematology Association." AJMC, June 2026.

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