ICYMI: Highlights From ASH 2023

The most-read content from the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition included the latest in treating hematologic malignancies, the hope brought by novel therapy strategies, and the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Check out the rest of our ASH 2023 coverage here.

5. Is Genome Editing the Next Step in Immunotherapy Innovation? Experts Think So

In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have brought hope to patients with certain hematologic cancers that previously had few, if any, effective treatment options. In a presentation at ASH 2023, experts in the field expressed optimism that CAR T-cell therapy is just the beginning of what can be done with cellular immunotherapy. With technologies such as CRISPR genome editing carrying potential to improve immunotherapy efficacy, the hope is that ongoing research will translate to clinical utility in the near future.

Read the full article here.

4.Cellular Therapies in Lymphoma Bring Hope, but Optimizing Their Use Remains a Challenge

Cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell therapies have changed the landscape of hematologic cancer treatment in recent years, but a roster of experts at ASH 2023 noted that the best way to use and sequence these therapies is still not entirely understood. Identifying prognostic factors for cellular therapy response, determining the role of bridging therapy, and managing aggressive lymphomas following CAR T-cell therapy failure were key questions discussed by presenters.

Read the full article here.

3.Results Show Strong Responses for Brentuximab Vedotin Plus Nivolumab Combo in Patients With cHL

Data from 2 abstracts at ASH 2023 demonstrated promising responses among patients treated with brentuximab vedotin plus nivolumab in a 4-drug regimen for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Results showed 100% of patients with early-stage cHL were still progression-free at 12 months. Among those with advanced disease, 88% remained progression-free at 24 months.

Read the full article here.

2. Dr Andrew Srisuwananukorn on the Potential for AI in Differentiating prePMF and ET

AI has emerged as a potentially useful tool across numerous clinical tasks, and an abstract presented at ASH 2023 showed an algorithm capable of differentiating between primary myelofibrosis (prePMF) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) with 92.3% accuracy. AI-based decision support tools may be especially helpful for clinicians who do not see prePMF or ET frequently, lead author Andrew Srisuwananukorn, MD, of Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, told The American Journal of Managed Care^® in this video interview.

Watch the interview here.

1. ALPINE: After 39 Months, Zanubrutinib Keeps Its PFS Edge Over Ibrutinib in R/R CLL, Especially for High-Risk Patients

At 39 months of follow-up, zanubrutinib demonstrated a 32% improvement in progression-free survival compared with ibrutinib in patients with for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic leukemia after 1 prior line of treatment, according to findings from the phase 3 ALPINE trial presented at ASH 2023. During the presentation, Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, explained that zanubrutinib has higher concentration ratios and thus offers more complete inhibition of BTK compared with ibrutinib, and that it produces fewer off-target effects.

Read the full article here.