HEMATOLOGY

Based on data from 2 clinical trials, nilotinib (Tasigna) has been approved by the FDA for the first- and second-line treatment of pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase. 

Since the identification of the role of the JAK kinase family&nbsp;in the late 1980s, awareness of this&nbsp;has grown significantly. These tyrosine<br /> kinases have been proven to transmit a variety of signals into the cells with many biological consequences, adding to the interest in the targetability of the JAK pathway. However,&nbsp;better understanding of the complexities of JAK signaling are being evaluated in clinical trials.

Based on findings from the phase III ECHELON-1 trial,&nbsp;brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) has been approved by the FDA for use in&nbsp;combination with chemotherapy as a frontline treatment for adult patients with stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma,&nbsp;according to a statement from Seattle Genetics, the manufacturer of the CD30-targeted antibody-drug conjugate.

Responses to lisocabtagene maraleucel have been potent and durable in the&nbsp;treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.&nbsp;Separate exploratory&nbsp;analyses of this population treated with liso-cel found that high tumor burden and a series of in ammatory biomarkers were associated with high chimeric antigen receptor T-cell expansion and higher rates of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.

Lung Cancer

Prithviraj Bose, MD, discussed the findings of 2 combination trials with ruxolitinib to optimize outcomes for patients with myelofibrosis.&nbsp;The JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib is the only FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis, but novel agents and combination regimens are in development to address some of the unmet needs in the field.

Tazemetostat showed efficacy in heavily treated patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma in interim results from a phase II trial. Investigators hope that the analysis of a 62-gene panel biomarker performed on the same patient population will help to identify the patients who will have an even stronger response to the oral EZH2 inhibitor developed by Epizyme.

Agne Paner, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions she makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Paner, an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, explained her treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

Michael L. Wang, MD, explains the&nbsp;biologic underpinnings of MCL as well as the treatment options for patients with MCL. The discussion is based on&nbsp;a case scenario of a patient with stage III intermediate-risk disease, and the factors that Wang would use when choosing the best treatment regimen for this patient.

Ibrutinib continues to be the standard of care for the treatment of relapsed/refractory patients with mantle cell lymphoma since its FDA approval in 2013, and long-term follow-up data of the Bruton&#39;s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor continue to demonstrate its clinical activity. In this interview with Targeted Oncology, an expert in the field sheds light on the impact of BTK inhibition on the treatment landscape.<br /> &nbsp;

The potential synergy of new agents with other treatment strategies, including immunotherapeutic and targeted approaches, is currently being investigated in various clinical trials, with the hope of identifying combinations that will lead to longer responses and improvements in duration of response for patients with MCL.

Effective management of mantle cell lymphoma requires awareness of current therapeutic approaches for a wide range of patient populations, clinical trials supporting the use of therapy in the frontline or relapsed/refractory settings, newer therapeutic options and strategies, and emerging therapies to improve patient outcomes&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;&#8203;.

C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Landgren, chief of the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, explained how he would treat these patients based on the review of a case scenario during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives dinner discussion.

Due to the diversity of disease presentation, together with new iterations of guidelines for MCL diagnosis, staging, and risk, there is no standardized therapeutic approach. Treatment decisions are currently guided by several factors, including patient age, level of fitness, presence of symptoms, risk category, proliferative index, and cell variant, which means&nbsp;it is important to accurately diagnose, stage, and assess risk in patients with MCL

Anas Younes, MD, chief of the Lymphoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses results from a trial studying the combination of nivolumab and ibrutinib for the treatment of patients with relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Denise. L. Pereira, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions she makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Pereira, assistant professor of clinical medicine, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida, explained her treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

In an 8 to 4 vote, the FDA&#39;s&nbsp;Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee recommended approval of blinatumomab for the treatment of minimal residual disease-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.