EHA: European Hematology Association

An education session at the 2022 European Hematology Association Congress featured updates on using genetic and immune characteristics to select the optimal treatment pathway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The 2022 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress will be the group’s first hybrid meeting, in which investigators will convene both virtually and in Vienna, Austria, from June 9-12, 2022, to present cutting-edge findings in the realm of oncology and hematology.

Real-world data confirmed the clinical effectiveness of Celltrion Healthcare’s rituximab biosimilar (Truxima, CT-P10) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

New studies into chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)–engineered natural killer (NK) cells has shown promising results, explained Ulrike Köhl, PhD, MD, professor of immune oncology and director of the Institute for Clinical Immunology at the University of Leipzig in Germany.

Ibrutinib is currently a standard of care in relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, but zanubrutinib is an effective second-line and second-generation option, said Peter Hillmen, PhD, MB ChB, professor at the University of Leeds.

Bispecific T-cell engagers and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies seem destined to move into earlier lines of therapy for multiple myeloma (MM), speakers at the European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress said.

The latest phase 2 MAGNOLIA results continue to show strong efficacy and tolerability for the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor in marginal zone lymphoma.

In the frontline setting, daratumumab added to backbone combination therapies has resulted in high rates of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, said Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, of the University of Miami and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Using limited data from the ASPEN trial, investigators estimated survival probability and cost-effectiveness for zanubrutinib vs other agents in Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

An interim analysis of the phase 3 ALPINE study demonstrated that zanubrutinib has a superior response rate, improved progressive-free survival, and lower rate of atrial fibrillation/flutter compared with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/ small lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL).

Results from 2 studies presented at this year’s European Hematology Association meeting demonstrate the long-term tolerability and efficacy of the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The populations represented in randomized controlled trials often do not match the populations being treated in the real world due to eligibility criteria, which can be challenging when translating those results to real-world decisions, explained speakers during a session at the European Hematology Association 2021 Virtual Congress.

The phase 2 ZUMA-3 trial of brexucabtagene autoleucel showed that it is possible to intervene early to prevent some toxicity, said Bijal Shah, MD, associate member in the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center.

The interim results on the first 415 patients randomized in the phase 3 ALPINE study showed a significantly better response for zanubrutinib compared with ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic leukemia, said Peter Hillmen, PhD, MB ChB, professor at the University of Leeds.

There are many unknowns for third-line chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treatment and beyond, speakers said at the EHA2021 Virtual Congress.

Daratumumab will likely become a part of most combination therapies for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) because it safely adds efficacy, according to Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, of the University of Miami and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

With 5 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies approved by the FDA, and 299 agents in the pipeline, it’s no surprise that the virtual meeting of the European Hematology Association (EHA) will have a heavy presence of CAR T research being presented in sessions and posters.