Top 5 Most-Viewed Content in Leukemia and Lymphoma for 2022

Effectiveness of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, current palliative care practices for patients with hematologic cancers, and updates to recommended treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL) were some of the topics covered in the top 5 most-viewed leukemia and lymphoma pieces published on AJMC.com.

Here are the top 5 most-viewed leukemia and lymphoma articles and podcasts of 2022.

5. Allogeneic CAR T-Cell Therapy Leads to Brief CR in Case Study of R/R B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia

CAR T-cell therapy has emerged as an effective immunotherapy in the treatment landscape surrounding hematologic cancers, but the manufacturing process is expensive and tedious and can be difficult in patients with high tumor burden. A case study showed allogeneic (or off-the-shelf) CAR T-cell therapy using donor cells could potentially overcome some of the drawbacks of autologous CAR T-cell therapy. This method could be effective with manageable adverse effects, researchers noted, although the disease maintenance period investigated was short.

Read the full article here.

4. Lymphoma Research Foundation CEO on Biden’s Cancer Moonshot, Financial Toxicity

Taking place on the same day President Joe Biden announced the return of the Cancer Moonshot, Meghan Gutierrez, CEO of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, took part in a Managed Care Cast conversation on financial toxicity, how the pandemic exacerbated patients’ financial needs, and efforts to address health care disparities and care gaps. The reinvigorated Cancer Moonshot program aims to cut cancer deaths by 50% over the next 25 years and to increase cancer screening, which has dropped sharply during the pandemic

Listen to the podcast here.

3. Palliative Care Shortcomings for Patients With Hematologic Malignancies Addressed in New Review

Although early palliative care (EPC) is known to significantly improve quality of life for those with advanced cancer, patients with hematologic malignancies encounter barriers to receiving EPC. A review provided insight into recent research on EPC in hematologic malignancies and potential models to facilitate integration of EPC for patients with these cancer types. A conceptual model that stratifies PC into 3 categories—primary, secondary, and tertiary—which are personalized to each patient based on severity of disease, was highlighted by the study authors.

Read the full article here.

2. NCCN Update Moves Zanubrutinib Ahead of Ibrutinib in CLL/SLL Based on Toxicity Profile

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines committee placed zanubrutinib, a second-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, on a higher rung in the guidelines in several areas, including as a first-line therapy for CLL/SLL without del(17p)/TP53 mutation. Results from the final analysis of the ALPINE randomized phase 3 study recently presented at the 64th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition show zanubrutinib achieved superiority in progression-free survival over ibrutinib, after a median follow-up of 29.6 months.

Read the full article here.

1. CAR T Cells Persist 10 Years After CLL Treatment, Hailed as "Cure"

A study inviestigating the longest-known results of the first CAR T-cell therapy infusions conducted in a 2010 phase 1 trial with 2 patients with CLL showed the infused cells remain active and persistent, keeping cancer at bay even today. Researchers, as well as one of the patients with CLL, hailed the findings as a cure, although more work is needed to see if the results persist in a larger group of patients.

Read the full article here.