February 25, 2019 - Supplement: Conference Highlights ASH 2018 (View All Issues)
Conference Highlights From the 2018 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition
In sunny San Diego, the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition welcomed nearly 30,000 attendees who were eager to present, learn, network, and cheer the joint achievements of many researchers. The packed meeting was filled with important information from...
Front-Line Ibrutinib Improves Progression-Free Survival in Older Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
IN A PHASE III TRIAL reported during the Plenary Session at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, single-agent ibrutinib and ibrutinib/rituximab were associated with superior progression-free survival vs...
Luspatercept May Reduce the Need for Transfusion in Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes
IN THE RANDOMIZED, double-blind, phase III MEDALIST trial, the experimental drug luspatercept significantly reduced the need for frequent red blood cell transfusions in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and ring sideroblasts. With luspatercept, 37.8% of patients remained...
Large Single-Arm Trial of Hydroxyurea for Sickle Cell Anemia in Sub-Saharan Africa
THE LARGEST PROSPECTIVE trial of hydroxyurea for sickle cell anemia has shown that this treatment is feasible, accepted, well tolerated, and safe for children living in sub-Saharan Africa. Hydroxyurea has long been the standard of care for treating children with sickle cell anemia in developed...
First-Line Ibrutinib/Rituximab Combination Shows Benefit for Younger Patients With CLL
FIRST-LINE therapy with the combination of ibrutinib and rituximab reduced disease progression by two-thirds compared with standard chemotherapy using fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) in younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to the late-breaking...
Newly Discovered Mutation in BCL2 Protein Impacts Outcomes in Patients With Progressive CLL
INVESTIGATORS FROM Australia have identified a genetic mutation that causes resistance to the targeted drug venetoclax in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to research presented at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition1 and...
Daratumumab, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Outcomes From the MAIA Trial
In patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation, the addition of daratumumab to lenalidomide and dexamethasone significantly reduced the risk of death or disease progression by 44%, according to a late-breaking abstract presentation by Thierry...
J. Evan Sadler, MD, PhD, Expert in Blood-Clotting Disorders, Dies at 67
Pioneering hematologist J. Evan Sadler, MD, PhD, an expert in the study and treatment of blood-clotting disorders, died December 13, 2018, at his home in Clayton, Missouri, following a brief illness. He was 67. Dr. Sadler was the Director of Hematology, the Ira M. Lang Professor of Medicine, and...
Low-Dose Rituximab Effective for Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura With Severe ADAMTS13 Deficiency
The results of a recent pilot study suggest that low-dose rituximab provides similar efficacy to standard-dose rituximab for the treatment of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a finding that could point to potential cost savings for patients in the nonlymphoma setting.
According...
Pilot Study Tests Novel Approach to Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease
Initial findings from a first-in-human trial have provided proof of principle for a groundbreaking approach to gene therapy for sickle cell disease, according to data presented at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition.1
Early results of genetic targeting...
Direct Oral Anticoagulants Show Reduced Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer
Results of a recent study suggest that direct oral anticoagulants can reduce the risk of thromboembolism in patients with cancer who are starting a new systemic therapy regimen, without significantly increasing the risk of major bleeding.
Data presented at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting &...
Crizanlizumab Improves Prevention of Vaso-occlusive Crises in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
For the first time in more than 20 years, patients with sickle cell disease may have another treatment option to reduce painful vaso-occlusive crises, according to data presented at the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition.1
Results of the phase II, randomized, ...
PAUSE Study Establishes Simple Approach to Perioperative Management of Direct Oral Anticoagulants
The largest study to date addressing the common problem of perioperative direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) management has shown that patients with atrial fibrillation can safely stop taking their anticoagulant for 1 day before and after procedures with a low risk of bleeding and for 2 days before...
