Dr. Enrico Novelli leads a newly launched network to expand access to care for patients with sickle cell disease across Maryland. He brings expertise in SCD and blood vessel biology, as well as global efforts to strengthen hematology care.
Researchers found that blood stem cells from young patients with sickle cell disease have features of aging, which can increase the risk for other complications. Using senolytics improved disease symptoms in model systems, highlighting a needed improvement to gene therapies.
ASH recognizes 11 leaders in hematology, including Elliott Vichinsky and Leon Bernal-Mizrachi, for transformative contributions to patient care and research. The awards highlight their dedication to improving outcomes and addressing health disparities.
Researchers have tested a new experimental cancer drug called gamitrinib in its first-in-human study. Gamitrinib is designed to target the mitochondria of cancer cells, where it can disrupt their energy systems.
A new study by the American Society of Hematology finds that stem cell transplantation is the most cost-effective option for long-term care of sickle cell disease in adults. Gene therapy, while promising, comes with an astronomical cost and requires a significant price reduction to be competitive.
Researchers found that iron deficiency may be more common and diagnosable earlier in U.S. school-aged children using a new method, detecting early stages of iron deficiency by looking at changes in red blood cells.
Researchers discovered that mezigdomide can reinvigorate exhausted T cells and enhance immunotherapies. The drug works by degrading key gene regulators Ikaros and Aiolos, which sustain genetic and epigenetic programs keeping T cells in an exhausted state.
Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 7.74 million people worldwide, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for two-thirds of global cases. Individuals living in this region are less likely to use medications or go to the hospital for pain crises, relying more on homeopathic remedies and delaying medical care.
The American Society of Hematology and the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis have released comprehensive guidelines for anticoagulant prophylaxis in non-cardiac pediatric patients at risk of venous thromboembolism. The guidelines outline best practices for preventing life-threatening complications in children.
A gene-edited treatment has shown remarkable success against severe sickle cell disease, with 27 out of 28 patients achieving a functional cure and no painful crises. The therapy uses CRISPR/Cas12a technology to modify stem cells and increase levels of fetal hemoglobin.
The American Society of Hematology has published clinical practice guidelines for diagnosing and managing severe acquired aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder. The guidelines highlight the importance of shared decision-making between patients and providers, as well as the need for additional researc...
Dr. Lisa G. Roth, MD has joined Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone and Perlmutter Cancer Center as director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She will oversee clinical care, research, and education programs while expanding access to advanced therapies and clinical trials.
The Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute is joining forces with the Chinese Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital to advance blood cancer research. The partnership aims to develop joint translational research programmes and accelerate the development of curative therapies for patients with blood cancers.
A new national study highlights the genetic changes that link exposure to Agent Orange to myelodysplastic syndromes, a group of bone marrow cancers that can progress to acute leukemia. The research found that exposed veterans were diagnosed at a younger age and had a higher rate of disease progression compared to unexposed patients.
A study by Yale School of Medicine found that 60% of physicians who treat sickle cell disease reported burnout, compared to 43% of those who do not. The data also showed that less job pride and less recreation time were associated with increased burnout.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified the FOXJ1 gene as a key player in chemotherapy resistance in prostate cancer. The study found that increased FOXJ1 levels in tumors can make cancer cells less responsive to taxane chemotherapy, leading to poorer outcomes for patients.
Researchers found that circulating tumor DNA can predict metastatic risk in patients treated with bladder-sparing treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The absence of ctDNA predicted favorable outcomes regardless of bladder removal status.
A recent study reveals that PD-L1 functions beyond immune regulation to regulate intracellular signaling pathways within cancer cells. The research team identified a novel molecular mechanism by which PD-L1 directly regulates autophagy signaling, leading to reduced cell proliferation and suppressed tumor growth in lung cancer models.
A study found that ultra-endurance running damages red blood cells, reducing their ability to carry oxygen and nutrients. The damage accelerates the aging and breakdown of these cells, with longer races leading to greater damage.
The Phase I/II multicenter international CADENZA trial found that 75% of patients with BPDCN treated with pivekimab sunirine achieved a complete response. The treatment delivered the therapeutic drug directly to cancer cells, resulting in rapid cancer cell death with limited targeting of healthy tissue.
The American Society of Hematology released guidelines for frontline and relapsed/refractory management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), outlining optimal approaches to treating high-risk patient populations. The guidelines highlight the need for additional research on immunotherapies and tr...
The American Society of Hematology released guidelines on the diagnosis of light chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare and life-threatening disease of the bone marrow. The guidelines outline best practices for diagnosing the disorder, which typically takes about three years to diagnose.
A single dose of IV iron dextran is the most cost-effective treatment option for women with heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency anemia. The study found that IV iron dextran improves quality of life and reduces costs compared to oral ferrous sulfate.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital created CHANGE-seq-BE to evaluate the activity and specificity of base editors, a genome editing technology, ensuring safety and accuracy. The technique outperformed conventional approaches and has already been used in clinical work.
Recent advances in immunotherapy have transformed multiple myeloma treatment, offering durable survival benefits. Emerging targets such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages are being explored to enhance treatment efficacy.
A study of 8,273 patients found that tranexamic acid significantly reduced the need for blood transfusions and did not increase the risk of blood clots. The medication promotes blood clotting, essential to stop bleeding during surgery, without increasing life-threatening complications.
A new trial shows pirtobrutinib to be more effective than bendamustine plus rituximab in treating previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The drug demonstrated improved survival rates, a favorable safety profile, and lower adverse event rates compared to the standard treatment.
A Phase III clinical trial found that over half of patients who received ianalumab for primary ITP maintained safe platelet counts without serious bleeding episodes for at least one year. The study suggests a new treatment option with the potential to improve long-term quality of life for patients.
A phase III trial found that adding ianalumab to standard therapy extended time to bleeding episodes and improved platelet counts in patients with ITP. The study showed a significant advantage of higher-dose ianalumab over the placebo group, but longer-term durability remains unknown.
A new trial found that the Tec-Dara combination of teclistamab and daratumumab significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with R/R multiple myeloma, achieving an 83.4% rate compared to 29.7% for standard therapies. The treatment also showed better quality of life outcomes and was comparable in safety profile.
Researchers found that CAR T cell therapy side effects, such as neurotoxicity and intestinal inflammation, are linked to high rates of death unrelated to cancer relapse. CirAEs were more common in patients who received cilta-cel and had higher non-relapse mortality rates.
A new national study reveals a strong link between Agent Orange exposure and the risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome, with exposed veterans diagnosed at younger ages and experiencing more aggressive disease. The study found that those with MDS were nearly twice as likely to see their disease progress within two years after diag...
Researchers present phase 1 study results of rapcabtagene autoleucel, a rapid CAR-T cell manufacturing platform that reduced production time to under two days. The treatment showed a manageable safety profile and promising antitumor activity, with complete remission rates ranging from 70% to 100% in patients.
A new study finds that most patients with a rare and aggressive form of large B-cell lymphoma can safely receive a less toxic treatment than intensive chemotherapy. The R-CHOP regimen has shown strong four-year survival rates for THRLBCL patients without significant side effects.
Researchers present promising new data from two ongoing studies of pivekimab sunirine targeting CD123 in treating two aggressive blood cancers, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). The triplet regimen including pivekimab sunirine showed high response rates and enabled stem cell transpla...
Researchers from City of Hope presented results on novel cellular and immunotherapies, treatment strategies for hard-to-treat blood cancers, and a first-in-human trial for GVHD. The studies showed promising outcomes, including higher event-free survival rates and fewer side effects.
Patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes experienced strong responses with fewer side effects when treated with a five-day azacitidine compared to shorter durations. The five-day regimen offered the best balance of safety and efficacy, demonstrating improved event-free survival and overall survival.
A new study found that a chemo-free combination treatment outperformed targeted therapy and chemotherapy in patients with Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia, achieving higher rates of event-free survival and complete remission. Researchers recommend this approach as the new standard of care for this patient group.
Pirtobrutinib, a non-covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, met its primary endpoint in terms of overall response rate compared to covalent BTK inhibitor ibrutinib. The study suggests pirtobrutinib shows promise as initial BTK inhibitor therapy for patients with CLL and SLL.
The TRANSCEND FL trial demonstrates the effectiveness of lisocabtagene maraleucel in achieving durable remissions and favorable safety profiles in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. The therapy produced a 97% overall response rate, with most patients remaining in remission after three years.
The azacitidine-venetoclax combination significantly improves event-free survival and overall response rates compared to intensive chemotherapy. Patients in the aza-ven arm also experience lower symptom burdens, reduced depression, and improved quality of life.
A new study by University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center researchers identified CD40 overexpression as a potential biomarker associated with improved overall survival in angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL). This discovery could lead to therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for this challenging disease.
A new study presented at ASH 2025 suggests that a virtual program focusing on diet and exercise can help reduce the severity of side effects associated with lymphoma treatment. The program, LIFE-L, showed significant improvements in symptoms such as anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, and constipation among participants.
A new study shows that adding epcoritamab to standard second-line therapy significantly improves follicular lymphoma outcomes, including a nearly 80% reduction in risk of death or disease progression. The treatment was also found to be effective for patients who received it on an outpatient basis.
Researchers found that taking hydroxyurea during or shortly before pregnancy does not appear to cause specific issues in newborns, but recommend discontinuing the drug before conception due to potential risks. The study included data from 245 pregnancies involving hydroxyurea exposure and showed no maternal deaths or hydroxyurea-relate...
Researchers developed an antibody therapy called 77A that targets HSP70, a heat shock protein helping tumors evade the immune system. The treatment showed strong antitumor effects by enhancing immune cell activity in laboratory models of multiple cancer types.
Researchers found that measurable residual disease (MRD) is strongly associated with long-term outcomes in AML patients, providing a reliable indicator of treatment response. MRD testing may help refine how physicians assess treatment efficacy and personalize post-remission care.
Researchers have discovered that a chemotherapy drug can improve outcomes in stem cell transplants when donors and recipients are unrelated and have significant genetic differences. The study showed comparable survival rates and lower risks of complications among patients receiving transplants with more or less extensive genetic mismat...
Black patients with acute myeloid leukemia are diagnosed at younger ages and have worse outcomes compared to white patients, according to a study analyzing data from 10 clinical trials over 34 years. The study found that Black patients had a higher risk of dying from AML and any cause, even when treated with similar mutations.
A study of over 1,000 patients found that hematopoietic cell transplantation eliminated sickle cell disease symptoms in most patients, with a 90% seven-year survival rate. Late effects were mostly liver and lung issues, but the procedure's benefits outweighed risks for many patients.
Preliminary results from trials of gene therapy exa-cel suggest the therapy offers an effective cure for beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease in children younger than 12. The therapy's potential to prevent irreversible complications makes it potentially more beneficial in children than adults.
A recent study found that only one-third of patients with sickle cell disease received guideline-adherent pain treatment within the first hour at emergency departments. The study analyzed data from over 398,000 visits and found disparities in treatment based on age, sex, and insurance status.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati present a new BTK degrader called Bexobrutideg, showing an 83% overall response rate in relapsed CLL patients. The treatment also shows efficacy in patients with CNS involvement and those with BTK mutations that none of currently approved BTK inhibitors are effective against.
A new study presented at the 2025 American Society of Hematology meeting revealed that subtle disruptions in genome architecture can predispose individuals to lymphoma. The research found that damaged 3D genome architecture can silence key tumor suppressor genes, creating fertile ground for malignancy.
A multidisciplinary project resulted in a significant rise in iron deficiency screening and treatment for pregnant patients. The project standardized ferritin testing and prescribed oral or IV iron supplements to address low ferritin levels, leading to improved median hemoglobin levels among those who received IV infusions.
Nearly one-third of families with children being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) experience serious financial difficulties, including losing 25% or more of their household income. The study, led by Dr. Daniel Zheng, found that nearly a third of families struggled to meet basic living costs during their child's treatment.
The Phase II trial of anito-cel demonstrated a high overall response rate of 97% and complete response rate of 68% in patients with refractory multiple myeloma. The therapy also showed a favorable safety profile, with manageable side effects.
A study of over 85,000 patients found that IV iron improved survival rates and increased hemoglobin levels in those with iron-deficiency anemia and acute bacterial infections. The treatment was safe and showed significant benefits across different types of infections.
Patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia who have no evidence of remaining cancer cells experienced comparable outcomes whether they received chemotherapy-based conditioning or total body irradiation. The study's findings could allow more patients to avoid TBI and its associated long-term side effects.
A new trial comparing continuous and fixed-duration treatments for CLL found equivalent outcomes in terms of risk of death or disease progression. Fixed-duration treatment was non-inferior to continuous treatment, suggesting clinically equal efficacy.