60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition

Ixazomib emerges as potential maintenance therapy for MM

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20190108140306

Patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) following induction and conditioning therapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) may derive survival benefit from maintenance therapy with ixazomib, according to the phase III TOURMALINE-MM3* trial.

D-Rd improves PFS over Rd in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20181228140303

The addition of daratumumab to lenalidomide and dexamethasone improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) who were ineligible for a stem cell transplant, according to interim results of the phase III multinational MAIA* trial.

Response-adapted approach fails to impress in first-line treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Jackey Suen, 20181228063835

Response-adapted therapy based on PET scan results following the second cycle of standard first-line treatment is found to have limitations in stage III/IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Ferumoxytol may improve PROs in patients with anaemia

Audrey Abella, 20181221100000

Use of a single course of the intravenous iron preparation ferumoxytol may lead to sustained improvements in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of individuals with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) who had inadequate response to oral iron therapy, according to data presented at ASH 2018.

Lenalidomide plus CHOP: Acceptable toxicity in elderly with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

Christina Lau, 20181221084142

Lenalidomide, given for 14 days in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP), has demonstrated acceptable toxicity in the REVAIL study in elderly patients with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), with efficacy results similar to reports from previous studies.

Bortezomib added to SoC improves 10-year survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Christina Lau, 20181220045705

Bortezomib in combination with thalidomide plus dexamethasone (VTD) significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) vs thalidomide plus dexamethasone (TD) alone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing double autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), 10-year results of the GIMEMA-MMY-3006 trial have shown.

Early relapse following ASCT a hallmark of high-risk myeloma

Audrey Abella, 20181218100000

Individuals with myeloma who relapse within a year (ie, progression-free survival [PFS] <12 months) after receiving autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) may have high-risk disease, suggesting poor survival rates, according to the results of the MYELOMA XI* trial presented at ASH 2018.

Proposed standardized perioperative DOAC interruption strategy safe, effective

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20181217140206

A standardized strategy that excludes heparin bridging and pre-operative coagulation testing may be feasible and suitable for individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) who require interruption of their direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) prior to elective surgery, results of the PAUSE* study show.

NOACs safe, effective in octogenarians

Audrey Abella, 20181217100245

Low rates of cardiovascular (CV) or major bleeding complications were observed among octogenarians who were receiving active NOAC* therapy, suggesting that long-term anticoagulation with NOACs may result in a good risk-benefit ratio in this patient subgroup, according to data presented at ASH 2018.

Luspatercept cuts blood transfusion burden in β-thalassaemia

Pearl Toh, 20181213180010

Luspatercept significantly reduces the need for blood transfusion in patients with β-thalassaemia, thus providing a new hope for patients with β-thalassaemia in whom no approved definitive curative treatments have been available yet other than bone marrow transplantation, according to the BELIEVE* study presented at ASH 2018.