Ponatinib and Blinatumomab Demonstrates Durable Responses in PH+ ALL

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, professor, and chair of the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine, discusses what experts should know regarding ponatinib (Iclusig; Takeda) and blinatumomab (Blincyto; Amgen) in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

According to data discussed during the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology, the combination induced deep responses and durable remissions in patients with Ph+ acute ALL.

Kantarjian notes how these findings may influence the future of this space as research pushes towards treating patients with non-chemotherapy regimens without the need of transplant, and with the use of ponatinib and blinatumomab.

Transcription:

0:08 | Ponatinib has shown significant activity in Philadelphia-positive ALL. When we use it at only 30 mg in combination with blinatumomab, we're getting fantastic results. I think in Philadelphia positive ALL, the tradition has been to use intensive chemotherapy with the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor and then move the patients to transplant, what we find is with ponatinib and blinatumomab, we're inducing the best molecular responses we've ever seen and we're reporting an estimated 3-year survival of 95% without the transplant.

0:49 | This is a major inflection point in the treatment of Philadelphia-positive ALL where we are advocating for a shift in the treatment from the combination of intensive chemotherapy TKI [tyrosine kinase inhibitor] and transplant to non-chemotherapy regimens without the need of transplant, and by using 2 targeted therapies, ponatinib and blinatumomab.