Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Patricia L. Kropf, MD, discusses a combination of decitabine and arsenic trioxide as a replacement for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who cannot withstand induction chemotherapy.

Blinatumomab (Blincyto) as a single agent showed high complete remission (CR), or CR with partial hematological recovery, in adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive and -negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

David Steensma, MD, discusses how midostaurin could affect the treatment paradigm for acute leukemia. He says that while midostaurin is not currently approved by the FDA, studies show its potential usefulness when added to conventional induction platforms.

Novel BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax showed a near 80% overall response rate (ORR) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia harboring a chromosome 17p deletion.

Data from a phase III trial shows adding idelalisib to bendamustine and rituximab (BR) dropped the risk of progression and/or death by 67% when compared to BR alone in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The multikinase inhibitor midostaurin (PKC412) has been shown to nearly triple the median overall survival (OS) rates of patients with FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in comparison to a placebo, according to the results of the prospective phase III trial CALGB 10603.

Stephen Nimer, MD, leukemia and lymphoma treatment specialist, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discusses results of a study which examined Musashi2 as a requirement for maintaining activated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cells.

Michael Mauro, MD, discusses the side effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Where once limited treatment options existed for patients with CLL, medical oncologists now have a plethora of agents from which to choose, making disease management in CLL more effective with fewer toxicities.

A supplemental new drug application has been submitted to the FDA for ibrutinib in conjunction with bendamustine and rituximab. The combination would treat patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

While CLL patients have lived longer with the use of B-cell pathway inhibitors, they require diligent monitoring and even potential suspension to control adverse events.

The anti-CD22 antibody-drug conjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin has been granted breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA as a potential treatment for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

John C. Byrd, MD, on Hematologic Malignancies in Chicago about novel agents in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia, specifically about the emergence of new targeted therapies, including ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and idelalisib (Zydelig) and what clinicians should know about them.

A new study suggests that the presence of persistent genetic mutations, 30 days after induction chemotherapy, predicted relapse and survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as well as intermediate-risk patients.

Venetoclax (ABT-199) monotherapy showed promising phase II results, which will be submitted to regulatory agencies for patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) harboring the 17p deletion.

Jeffrey Jones, MD, MPH, assistant professor, Internal Medicine, section head, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) research program, Ohio State University, discusses idelalisib (Zydelig) for previously treated CLL.

This review addresses the basics of CAR T-cell design and reviews data from published clinical studies in leukemia.

Treatment with ibrutinib plus the anti-CD20 antibody ublituximab was shown to be safe with an objective response rate of 95% in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Treatment with inotuzumab ozogamicin was found to be safe and effective in a phase III study for patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The IDH2 inhibitor AG-221 has demonstrated promising response rates in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and other hematologic malignancies.

The combination of ibrutinib with bendamustin plus rituximab (BR) demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared with BR alone in patients with pretreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy JCAR017 elicited a 91% complete remission rate in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Cytogenetic and molecular data are becoming increasingly important in the individualization of treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Experts on hematologic malignancies will convene for the 19th Annual International Congress on Hematologic Malignancies, from February 20-21 in Miami, Florida, to provide insight into recent developments in the treatment of the diseases.

The FDA has granted a Fast Track Designation to CPX-351, a liposomal formulation of cytarabine and daunorubicin, for the treatment of elderly patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).