Howard J. Weinstein, MD

Commenting on the blinatumomab study, Howard J. Weinstein, MD, Chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School in Boston, said: “These are very promising results for children, adolescents, and young adults who have had a first relapse of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and are in an intermediate- or high-risk group.”

He continued, “The most notable finding is the higher rates of [minimal residual disease] response and the rate of patients successfully proceeding from the experimental arm with blinatumomab to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation compared to the intensive chemotherapy arm. The experimental arm also resulted in fewer and less severe toxicities and improved disease-free and overall survival. The results of this clinical trial will immediately impact how pediatric oncologists treat children, adolescents, and young adults who have had a first relapse of B-cell ALL.” 

DISCLOSURE: Dr. Weinstein reported no conflicts of interest.