Dec. 15, 2006: Reporting from the American Society of Hematology 48th Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, December 9-12, 2006

Martin Müller

Charles Linker

Andreas Hochhaus

Christian Buske

Katarina Le Blanc

Stephen Emerson

Alessandro Vannucchi

Kanti Rai

Richard Schlenk

BCR-ABL Mutations After Imatinib Failure: Impact on Response to Dasatinib

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 748
MARTIN MÜLLER, University of Heidelberg, Manheim
COMMENT: CHARLES LINKER, University of California, San Francisco
In chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia, the new multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib has proven effective in patients developing BCR-ABL mutations that have caused resistance to the first line agent imatinib. Martin Müller gave Peter Goodwin the latest data on dasatinib and his views about the possible clinical use of this new agent.

Nilotinib: Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition Alternative When Imatinib Fails

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 749
ANDREAS HOCHHAUS, University of Heidelberg, Manheim
COMMENT: CHARLES LINKER, University of California, San Francisco
The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib has proven capable of controlling chronic myeloid leukemia in patients for whom imatinib has failed because of the emergence of BCR-ABL mutations. Andreas Hochhaus discussed the achievements and the limitations of this new therapy with Peter Goodwin during the ASH meeting in Orlando.

Rituximab-CHOP Significantly Better Than CHOP Alone for Older Patients With Advanced Stage Follicular Lymphoma

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 482
CHRISTIAN BUSKE, University Hospital, Munich
COMMENT: CHARLES LINKER, University of California, San Francisco
A phase III randomized trial from the German Low Grade Lymphoma group has shown rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP) to be significantly better than CHOP alone in older patients with advanced stage follicular lymphoma. R-CHOP gave higher response rates, longer times to treatment failure, and longer overall survival with no additional side effects as compared to CHOP alone. Sarah Maxwell spoke to Christian Buske at the American Society of Hematology meeting in Orlando.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells To Treat Severe Graft-Versus-Host-Disease: A New Option?

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 753
KATARINA LE BLANC, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
COMMENT: STEPHEN EMERSON, University of Pennsylvania
A new way of treating graft-versus-host-disease could be therapy with mesenchymal stem cells from HLA matched or unmatched donors. Steroid refractory patients with hematologic malignancies experiencing severe graft-versus-host disease received allogeneic transplants in a study reported in Orlando. Many had complete responses to therapy. Sarah Maxwelll asked Katarina Le Blanc about these findings.

Polycythemia Vera: JAK2 Gene Mutation Levels Predict Outcome And Could Guide Therapy

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 5
ALESSANDRO VANNUCCHI, University of Florence
COMMENT: KANTI RAI, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New York
A new study of patients with polycythemia vera has discovered that prognosis and, consequently, therapy recommendations are predicted by the proportion of JAK2 genes which are mutated. Alessandro Vannucchi from Florence University told Peter Goodwin about his findings at the ASH conference in Florida, and suggested that therapy may be guided by reference to JAK2 mutation levels.

Predictive Markers for Younger Patients with Normal Karyotype Acute Myeloid Leukemia

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 4
RICHARD SCHLENK, University of Ulm, Germany
COMMENT: KANTI RAI, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New York
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia may do better or worse depending on whether they have specific molecular markers. New findings on this were discussed at the ASH meeting in Orlando in a presentation from Ulm. After his talk Richard Schlenk told Sarah Maxwell about their findings and the clinical hopes they raised for improving therapy.

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