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Dana-Farber News from ASH 2020
Dana-Farber Highlights from ASH 2020
Video Highlights
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Dr. Corey Cutler presented evidence demonstrating that a donor stem cell transplant can improve survival rates for older patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
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Dr. Caron Jacobson presented the primary analysis of Zuma-5, a phase 2 study of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
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ASH Awards for Dana-Farber Faculty
Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD
ASH Award for Leadership in Promoting Diversity
Annamaria Gullà, MD
2020 Joanne Levy, MD, Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement
Project
title: "Bortezomib Induces Anti-Multiple Myeloma Immune Response Mediated by Cgas/Sting Pathway Activation, Type I Interferon Secretion, and Immunogenic Cell Death: Clinical Application"
Elisa ten Hacken
ASH Abstract Achievement Award
ASH Scholar Award
Kirsty Hillier, MD
ASH Research Training Award for Fellows
Peter Miller, MD, PhD
ASH Research Training Award for Fellows
Samuel Ng, MD, PhD
ASH Scholar Fellow to Faculty Award in Basic/Translational Research
Project title: Mechanistic Insight to Target BATF3-IRF4 Transcription
Factor Complexes in Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma"
Oreofe Odejide, MD, MPH
ASH Junior Faculty Scholar Award for Clinical Research
Project title: "An Intervention for Fear of Cancer Recurrence Among
Lymphoma Survivors"
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Dana-Farber Highlights from ASH 2019
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Dr. Jacqueline Garcia presented results of a trial using venetoclax in stem cell transplants regimens for patients with high-risk myeloid cancers.
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Dr. Mark Bustoros presented data from a phase 2 clinical trial of three oral drugs showing high response rate with tolerable effects in high risk smoldering multiple myeloma.
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Dr. Reid Merryman presented a new analysis showing that a donor stem cell transplant following treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor is generally safe and produces good outcomes for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, easing concerns that these patients are at heightened risk for severe immune-related complications.
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Oral presentations included:
Genetic Alterations at Diagnosis Predict Outcome of AML Patients Age 60 or Older Undergoing Allogeneic Transplantation in First Remission
Presenter/Author: H. Moses Murdock, BS, R. Coleman Lindsley, MD, PhD
View
Abstract
Read Findings
HemOnc Today coverage
AMG 701 Potently Induces Anti-Multiple Myeloma (MM) Functions of T Cells and IMiDs Further Enhance Its Efficacy to Prevent MM Relapse In Vivo
Presenter/Author: Yu-Tzu Tai, PhD
View Abstract
Read Findings
A Phase 1 Dose-Escalation Study of Adding Venetoclax to a Reduced Intensity Conditioning (RIC) Regimen Prior to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Patients with High Risk Myeloid Malignancies
Presenter/Author: Jacqueline
Garcia, MD
View Abstract
Read Findings
ASH Clinical News
coverage
Oncology Times coverage
Phase II Trial of the Combination of Ixazomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone in High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Presenter/Author: Mark Bustoros, MD
View Abstract
Read Findings
ASCO Post coverage
HemOnc Today coverage
Safety and Efficacy of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant after Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD-1) / Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Blockade for Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: Analysis of a Large International Cohort
Presenter/Author: Reid W. Merryman, MD
View Abstract
Read Findings
The Cancer Letter coverage
Video Highlights
Watch Dana-Farber faculty summarize research they presented at ASH 2019
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Dana-Farber Highlights at ASH 2018
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CAR T-Cell Therapy Updates from ASH 2018
Caron Jacobson, MD, medical director of the immune effector cell therapy program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, highlights key CAR T-cell study results from the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting. Studies presented include longer-term follow-up of CAR T in non-Hodgkin lymphoma; data of CAR T in the real-world vs. clinical trial setting; combination therapy with CAR T; and allogeneic CAR T.
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Updates on CAR T for Myeloma
Nikhil Munshi, MD, director of basic and correlative science in the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber, explains the excitement for CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma patients. Early results show significant effectiveness and moderate side effects with this therapy, although efforts are underway to improve its effectiveness for longer periods of time.
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Updates in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia from ASH 2018
Matthew Davids, MD, MMSc, associate director of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Center at Dana-Farber, shares exciting advances in CLL treatment from the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting. Highlights include practice-changing studies using ibrutinib in the frontline setting, as well as opportunities to combine venetoclax with other treatments.
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Exploring early treatment intervention for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma patients
Mark Bustoros, MD, shares results of the phase 2 study treating patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma with ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone. Results of this study were presented at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting and offer an early intervention option for patients with high risk smoldering multiple myeloma.
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Risk factors that influence disease progression for asymptomatic Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia patients
Mark Bustoros, MD, explains the analysis of asymptomatic Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia patients that helped identify the risk factors that contribute to disease progression. The analysis helped establish a risk-based stratification system that may help guide clinical care for these patients. The analysis was presented at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting.
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Updates in adult leukemia treatment
Daniel DeAngelo, MD, PhD, recaps key highlights in adult leukemia treatment from the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting, including combination treatment with venetoclax as well as treatment using FLT3 and IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitors.
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Targeted agent uproleselan shown to be effective for acute myeloid leukemia
Daniel DeAngelo, MD, PhD, recaps his presentation of uproleselan for patients with acute myeloid leukemia from the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting. Uproleselan is a targeted agent that blocks e-selectin, which enables leukemia cells to resist chemotherapy.
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Improving outcomes for myeloid cancers
R. Coleman Lindsley, MD, PhD, explains several studies aimed at improving outcomes for myeloid cancer patients who undergo stem cell transplantation; these studies were presented at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting.
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Immune response may predict progression
Irene Ghobrial, MD, explains findings of studies looking at gene-level changes that may cause precursor conditions such as MGUS or smoldering multiple myeloma to progress to multiple myeloma.
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New Findings from Dana-Farber Researchers, Presented at ASH 2018
Many Dana-Farber investigators are presenting new research findings and advances at ASH 2018, including:
Five presentations of research on myeloma progression from precursor conditions and novel approaches to treatment:
- Immune response may predict risk of progression to myeloma in patients with precursor conditions
- Three-drug combination produces broad response in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma
- Study identifies ID2-related pathways as potential drug targets in multiple myeloma
- Researchers launch screening study of individuals at high risk of multiple myeloma
- Researchers devise risk-based classification system for patients with smoldering Waldenström's macroglobulinemia
Two presentations of new research on improving outcomes in stem cell transplantation for myeloid cancers:
Three presentations, including one that compared outcomes of CAR T-cell therapy in patients in clinical trials with outcomes in the "real world" of clinical practice:
- CAR T-cell treatment provides durable benefit to lymphoma patients outside clinical trials (
Caron Jacobson, MD, lead investigator)
Outcomes in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with the CAR T-cell product Yescarta in the "real world" are similar to results
seen in the more limited clinical trial setting, say researchers from Dana-Farber ...
- Checkpoint inhibitor achieves lengthy responses in aggressive type of B-cell lymphoma (Philippe Armand, MD, PhD, first author)
Immunotherapy with the drug pembrolizumab has "robust antitumor activity" and can achieve long lasting responses in patients
with an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, report scientists from Dana-Farber ...
- Targeted agent plus chemotherapy is well-tolerated, achieves promising survival in AML (
Daniel DeAngelo, MD, PhD, lead investigator)
An experimental drug added to standard chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) resulted in promising
remission and survival rates and was well-tolerated, with no increase in adverse events, reports a Dana-Farber physician-scientist ...
Dana-Farber Faculty Oral Presentation Schedules for ASH 2018
Presentations on Saturday, December 1, 2018
Presentations on Sunday, December 2, 2018
Presentations on Monday, December 3, 2018
Dana-Farber Highlights at ASH 2017
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Irene Ghobrial, MD, on Identifying High Risk in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Irene Ghobrial, MD, discusses her team’s genomic analysis of patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), a precursor to full-blown blood cancer. The study helped identify which patients with SMM are at high risk of progressing to overt myeloma.
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Caron Jacobson, MD, on CAR T-cell Therapy Data
Dana-Farber’s Caron Jacobson, MD, provides an update on the promising, long-term data presented at the ASH 2017 Annual Meeting on CAR T-cell therapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
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Matthew Davids, MD, MMSc, on Advances in CLL Treatment
Matthew Davids, MD, MMSc, of Dana-Farber’s Center for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, shares updates at ASH on advances in treating newly-diagnosed and relapsed CLL. New approaches include ibrutinib + FCR for younger, newly-diagnosed patients and a combination of rituximab and venetoclax for relapsed patients.
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Andrew Lane, MD, PhD, Shares Updates at ASH 2017 on Treating BPDCN
Dr. Lane recaps the promising results presented at the ASH 2017 Annual Meeting from a phase 2 trial of SL-401 for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), as well as results from his lab exploring why some patients respond to SL-401 and others do not.
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ASH President and Dana-Farber's Ken Anderson, MD, Highlights Key Topics for 2017 ASH Annual Meeting
Targeted therapies and immunotherapy were among the highlights as oncology experts gathered at this year's ASH Annual Meeting. In a far-reaching Q & A, Dr. Anderson previewed exciting presentations of CAR T-cell therapy clinical trial results for
lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and a novel targeted therapy for the treatment of advanced systemic mastocytosis.
Read the full Q & A interview with ASH President Ken Anderson, MD.
Awards and Honors
- Congratulations to Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber's Chair of Medical Oncology, who received the William Dameshek Prize, awarded to an individual no more than 50 years of age (at time of nomination) who has made outstanding contributions in hematology.
- Thank you to Kenneth Anderson, MD, Program Director of Dana-Farber's Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, for serving as ASH President in 2017.
Follow the conversation on Twitter #ASH17
Follow us on LinkedIn
View the schedule of presentations by Dana-Farber faculty.
New Findings from Dana-Farber Researchers, Presented at ASH 2017
Many Dana-Farber investigators have presented new research findings and advances at ASH 2017, including:
Study identifies agent that can reverse resistance to targeted drug in some leukemia cell types
After discovering how some hematologic cancer cells manage to elude death from a targeted therapy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have double-crossed the cancer cells with a drug that renders them vulnerable to the targeted agent.
Study explores use of checkpoint inhibitors after relapse from donor stem cell transplant for hematologic cancers
Immunotherapy agents known as checkpoint inhibitors have shown considerable promise in patients with hematologic cancers who relapse after a transplant with donor stem cells. Preliminary results from the first clinical trial in these patients of one such
agent — nivolumab — indicate that along with signs of effectiveness, it also produced significant side effects at the dose initially studied. The findings indicate a need for further clinical trials in this group before being considered for off-label
use with these patients.
Low-dose treatment with interleukin-2 across multiple studies shows benefits in chronic graft-versus-host disease
Daily low doses of the immune signaling protein interleukin-2 (IL-2) can safely benefit patients who develop chronic graft-versus-host disease following stem cell transplants, including particular benefit in pediatric patients in one small study.
Study shows combining chemotherapy with targeted drug boosts response in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Among younger patients newly diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and a molecularly targeted drug significantly improves response over what is typically seen with chemotherapy alone, according
to an investigator-initiated multi-center phase II clinical trial.
Sequencing offers clues to progression toward multiple myeloma
Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have carried out the largest genomic analysis of patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), a precursor to full-blown blood cancer that doesn't show outward symptoms. The next-generation sequencing project
will help to explain the biology of the disease and how it unfolds through time from asymptomatic stages to symptomatic ones.
Tracking how multiple myeloma evolves by sequencing DNA in the blood
Although people with multiple myeloma usually respond well to treatment, the blood cancer generally keeps coming back. Following genetic changes in how the disease evolves over time will help to understand the disease and, eventually, deliver more effective
treatments. Researchers now have successfully demonstrated techniques to track these alterations over time by analyzing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) found in blood.
Rapid responses, few adverse effects seen with targeted agent in Phase 1 trial in rare blood disorder
In a Phase 1 trial, patients with an advanced or aggressive form of systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM), a rare blood disorder, had rapid and durable responses with few adverse effects following treatment with an investigational drug that targets the genetic
mutation found in more than 90 percent of cases. The once-daily pill, BLU-285, targets a mutation called KIT D816V that is found in almost all cases of AdvSM, a disease that originates in mast cells, a type of white blood cell.