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Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 2020 Dec 17. Epub 2020 Dec 17.

Division of Hematology & Oncology, MUSC Health Hollings Cancer Center, Charleston, SC.

Background: Despite recent advances, outcomes in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remain poor. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown limited efficacy in this setting, but combinations with novel agents may enhance benefit. Combination therapy with durvalumab, an anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody, and danvatirsen (AZD9150; an antisense oligonucleotide inhibiting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 [STAT3]) or tremelimumab (an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 [CTLA-4] antibody) may augment endogenous antitumor activity. Read More

Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2021 Feb 25. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Purpose Of Review: The advent of several targeted agents has revolutionized the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in recent times; however, majority of patients are still not cured. In the ongoing quest for rationally targeted treatment strategies in AML, scientific endeavors have focused on identifying new antigen targets on the leukemic cells for therapeutic exploitation including strategies to directly deliver toxins into the leukemic blasts as well as strategies that harness host immunity to favorably impact clinical outcomes. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin, a CD33 directed antibody-drug conjugate, has provided the proof of concept for the potential efficacy of monoclonal antibody-based therapies in AML. Read More

Ther Adv Hematol 2021 11;12:2040620720986646. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Gehr Family Center for Leukemia Research, City of Hope, 1500 Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.

Venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) or low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) has demonstrated exceptional activity in elderly and unfit patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Notably, the safety profile of venetoclax-based induction regimens was favorable, with a low rate of early treatment-related mortality, even in frail study participants. Thus, the introduction of venetoclax has transformed the landscape of AML therapy in elderly patients. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 Feb 22;14(2). Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Hematology Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), ALK negative (ALK-) is an aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder of mature T lymphocytes characterised by hallmark cells, CD30 positivity and lacking ALK protein expression. ALCL, ALK- has to be differentiated from peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. ALK- anaplastic large cell leukaemia should be considered in a patient with a history of ALCL, ALK- presenting with new leukaemia. Read More

Leuk Lymphoma 2021 Feb 18:1-15. Epub 2021 Feb 18.

Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is curable with chemotherapy but relapses occur in approximately 30% of cases. Novel agents, including brentuximb vedotin (BV) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have encouraging activity in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory cHL, confirming that the use of agents that target tumor cells or the tumor microenvironment are promising strategies to improve patient outcomes. The field of immunotherapy in cHL is now moving toward combinations of PD-1 inhibitors with other immunological agents such as cytotoxic T- lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, newer PD-1 inhibitors such as sintilimab, tislelizumab, avelumab and camrelizumab, bispecific antibodies such as AFM-13, cellular therapies using CD30 chimeric antigen T-cells (CD30. Read More