ICYMI: Top Content From EHA22

When the 2022 European Hematology Association (EHA22) Congress convened June 9-12, 2022, in Vienna, Austria, it offered education sessions in both oncology, such as multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia, and nononcology, such as iron deficiency and hemoglobin disorders.

Among the top content from the conference was a new prognostication and molecular classification system for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), late-breaking data on treatments in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and sickle cell disease (SCD), and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine.

AI Holds Potential to Support Ethical Principles in Hematology—but There’s a Dark Side

AI can help advance the principles of ethical medicine, but it may also be used to undermine the integrity of scientific research. Machine learning is being used to identify new phenotypes in predicting outcomes in chronic graft vs host disease, explained one speaker, but the use of AI raises ethical questions. Overcoming the ethical challenges of AI in medicine requires embedding ethics into the lifecyle of AI development, prioritizing human-centered AI, and ensuring fair representation.

Dr Elli Papaemmanuil Explains Novel Prognostication, Molecular Classification System for MDS

The backbone of disease classification and stratification in MDS has been based on cytogenetic profiling, but less than 50% of patients have aberrant cytogenetic profiles, which means a majority of patients have no molecular markers to inform classification and risk stratification, explained Elli Papaemmanuil, PhD, assistant professor in computational oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

At EHA22, Papaemmanuil presented work that incorporates both cytogenetic markers and gene mutations to enable a molecular base stratification for all patients with MDS.

Late-Breaking Abstracts at EHA2022 Describe Therapy Comparisons, Investigational Treatments in Hematology

Presentations with recent data highlighted outcomes from the phase 3 GAIA trial in CLL, the phase 3 DETERMINATION trial in multiple myeloma, and a study of a single-dose treatment for transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia and severe SCD.

DETERMINATION evaluated the use of allogeneic stem cell transplant in conjunction with lenalidomide (Revlimid), bortezomib (Velcade), and dexamethasone (RVd) triple therapy in multiple myeloma and noted a significant advantage in progression-free survival in those receiving both vs those only receiving RVd.

In another abstract, a single dose of CTX001 appeared to be effective and well tolerated in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia or severe SCD. The findings indicate the cell therapy’s potential to offer functional cure to patients with the hematological conditions.

Dr John Mascarenhas: Preliminary Data Show Substantial Spleen, Symptom Improvement With Pelabresib, Ruxolitinib Combination in Myelofibrosis

Preliminary data from the phase 2 MANIFEST study of pelabresib and ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis who have never taken Janus kinase inhibitors or who had suboptimal response to ruxolitinib as a monotherapy have found the combination to be favorable to monotherapy. There was a total symptom score response rate of 56% whereas monotherapy tends to have rates between 20% and 40%, explained John Mascarenhas, MD, director of the Adult Leukemia Program at The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai.

Check out additional coverage from the meeting.