Dr. Catherine Lai, associate professor and physician leader of the Leukemia Clinical Research Unit, the University of Pennsylvania, highlights some of the most compelling data from the rapid oral session on leukemia and transplant patients.
Among the standout abstracts was a study presented during a session she moderated on a frontline regimen for older patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The combination of asatinib, dasatinib, and blinatumomab led to a 100% complete remission rate after just one cycle of blinatumomab—with all patients also achieving minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity.
Dr. Lai also discusses another presentation focused on intermediate- and high-risk myelofibrosis patients. In this trial, the addition of imetelstat to ruxolitinib not only improved symptoms such as splenomegaly but also reduced variant allele frequency, suggesting a potential disease-modifying effect.
She recaps additional highlights from the session’s panel discussion, including long-term results comparing luspatercept to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in low-risk MDS. The study revealed a survival benefit in the luspatercept arm—an important milestone in this patient population.
A presentation on metronomic decitabine plus venetoclax was also notable, especially for its impressive response in patients with TP53-mutated MDS and AML—typically a very challenging subgroup.
Looking ahead, Dr. Lai reflects on the future of hematologic malignancy treatment, emphasizing the need for thoughtful drug sequencing and timing to balance improved efficacy with manageable toxicity.
She closes by applauding the rapid oral format for efficiently showcasing high-impact data and allowing for dynamic expert discussion.
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