Advances in blood cancer treatment have saved 25.8 million life-years, with significant gains for Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. However, Black patients and those with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) continue to experience worse outcomes, highlighting the need for continued research investment.
Matthew Gertzog has been named the American Society of Hematology's next lead staff executive and chief executive officer, succeeding Martha Liggett after 30 years. Gertzog brings nearly 40 years of experience in nonprofit and association management to the role.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
A study assessing the commercial roll-out of gene therapies for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia reveals operational differences between two treatments. The median time to complete treatment was around 9-10 months, with most patients requiring only one cell collection procedure.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
A biomarker study found that low placental growth factor (PlGF) levels can predict early-onset preeclampsia in pregnant women with sickle cell disease. The researchers identified a PlGF threshold of 87 pg/mL at 20-24 weeks as effective for predicting early-onset preeclampsia and late-onset preeclampsia, respectively.
A study published in Blood Advances found that individuals with sickle cell disease who were triaged appropriately received their first dose of pain medication within 60 minutes, while those triaged at lesser severity levels waited nearly three times as long. The researchers analyzed the impact of emergency severity index (ESI) assignm...
Treatment with exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) leads to clinically meaningful improvements in overall quality of life for patients with severe sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Patients experience substantial improvements in physical, social, functional, and emotional well-being, with sustained benefits...
The study found that only 16% of newly diagnosed patients with MDS on Medicare received HMAs during the period analyzed, with women and non-white patients being less likely to start treatment. The analysis suggests that making changes with existing therapies and administration can have a huge impact on improving outcomes in high-risk MDS.
A study found that immunoglobulin replacement therapy was ineffective in reducing serious infections requiring hospitalization among CLL patients. Despite increasing use of the therapy, infection rates remained high, highlighting a need for better clinical guidelines and evaluation of treatment duration.
The new guidelines aim to improve health outcomes by providing evidence-based recommendations for managing VTE in children. Direct oral anticoagulants are now recommended as a first-line treatment option in many cases.
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) taking statin medications at the start of treatment had a significantly lower risk of dying from their cancer. Statin use reduced death rates by 61% compared to non-statin users.
A real-world study of 2,147 children with sickle cell disease found that hydroxyurea reduced emergency department visits by 0.36 fewer times per patient-year and hospital stays by 0.84 fewer days per patient-year. Improvements in hemoglobin concentration were seen only in patients who consistently took the medication.
Researchers have discovered a significant increase in inflammation and C-reactive protein levels in female patients with sickle cell disease during the follicular phase of their menstrual cycle. This finding may help identify potential targets for managing pain crises, particularly when combined with hormonal contraceptives.
A new machine learning model improves risk assessment for patients with myelofibrosis seeking a transplant, identifying high-risk patients with a 40% chance of dying within a year. The open-access model provides a practical tool for clinicians to enhance shared decision-making with their patients.
A systematic literature review found no evidence to support a link between physical exertion without rhabdomyolysis or heat injury and sudden death in individuals with sickle cell trait. The review's findings refute the attribution of sudden death to SCT, a condition affecting over 100 million people worldwide.
The ASH Minority Recruitment Initiative shows lower attrition rates for participants in graduate and medical programs, leading to more career pursuits in hematology. Participants also exhibit high levels of engagement with the American Society of Hematology beyond their program participation.
Continuous Medicaid enrollment is associated with a lower rate of late-stage lymphoma diagnosis, but fewer than half of patients are continuously enrolled before diagnosis. The study found that continuous coverage was strongly linked to a lower likelihood of late-stage diagnosis, especially in young adults.
A new study found that preschool-aged children with sickle cell disease who live in food deserts and have limited access to transportation are at greater risk for acute complications and hospitalizations. Living in a household located more than one mile from a supermarket was associated with a 44% increase in hospitalizations.
A study published in Blood reported high response rates of 89% and complete responses of 70% among patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received cilta-cel infusions. The results were comparable to those seen in clinical trials, suggesting the therapy's effectiveness in real-world settings.
A study published in Blood Advances found that CAR-T therapy can be administered safely and effectively on an outpatient basis in community hospitals, mitigating barriers to access. The treatment showed high efficacy rates, with 80% of patients experiencing an objective response and 54% achieving a complete response.