Blood Podcast

In this week's episode, Blood editor Dr. Laurie Sehn interviews authors Drs. Lorenzo Falchi and Robert Levy on their latest papers published in Blood Journal. Dr. Falchi discusses his work on an open-label, multicenter phase 1b/2 study evaluating fixed-duration epcoritamab with rituximab and lenalidomide in 108 patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. Dr. Levy shares his work on demonstrating that in vivo expansion of Tregs in recipients prior to transplant is possible by activating TNFRSF25 (also known as death receptor 3) in combination with low-dose interleukin-2 in preclinical models. Both papers showed impressive and promising results for the treatment of lymphoma and GVHD.Featured ArticlesFixed-Duration Epcoritamab Plus R2 Drives Favorable Outcomes in Relapsed or Refractory Follicular LymphomaPre-transplant targeting of TNFRSF25 and CD25 stimulates recipient Tregs in target tissues ameliorating GVHD post-HSCT

In this week's episode, Blood editor Dr. Laura Michaelis interviews authors Drs. Terri Parker and Peter Lenting on their latest papers published in Blood Journal. Dr. Lenting discusses his work on introducing a new therapeutic approach to von Willebrand disease with the development of a novel bispecific antibody (KB-V13A12) that links endogenous mouse VWF to albumin, extending VWF half-life twofold with cessation of provoked bleeding. Dr Parker shares the results of a 43-patient phase 2 study that evaluates the single agent isatuximab, a CD38 monoclonal antibody, in patients with relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis. With a hematological response rate of 77%, organ response rates between 50 and 57%, and an excellent safety profile, the current study lays the foundation for future use of isatuximab across treatment settings and combination strategies.Featured ArticlesIsatuximab for Relapsed and/or Refractory AL Amyloidosis: Results of a Prospective Phase 2 Trial (SWOG S1702)A bispecific nanobody for the treatment of von Willebrand disease type 1

Join Dr. John Semple, a researcher at Lund University specializing in transfusion-related lung injuries, as he discusses how mitochondrial DNA acts as a critical trigger for TRALI via TLR9 signaling. Dr. Othman Al-Sawaf studies chronic lymphocytic leukemia and reveals surprising insights about patient fitness, highlighting that both fit and unfit patients respond similarly to treatment with venetoclax and obinutuzumab. Their research challenges existing views and suggests new pathways for understanding and treating these conditions.

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Taylor Brooks, a clinician and researcher from the Cleveland Clinic, sheds light on bispecific antibodies like epcoritamab and glofitamab in treating aggressive B-cell lymphoma. He discusses their innovative mechanisms and how they address a critical need for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Key findings from his study reveal promising response rates and survival outcomes, while also highlighting the necessity for further research on TP53 mutations and future treatment strategies.

Join Dr. Sarah C. Rutherford, a lymphoma specialist, Dr. Carla Casulo, a clinician-scientist tackling relapsed follicular lymphoma, and Dr. Aaron Perry, a researcher focused on lymphoma biology. They delve into innovative treatment strategies like bispecific antibodies and CAR T-cell therapies. The conversation explores personalizing therapies based on patient history, the biology behind lymphoma transformation, and how emerging tools like ctDNA can guide treatment choices. Plus, they discuss the potential for cures and the complexities of managing high-risk cases.

In this week's episode of the Blood Podcast, Associate Editor Dr. James Griffin interviews Drs. Binod Dhakal and Ruben Bierings about their respective papers published in this week's issue of Blood. Dr. Dhakal presents his study on using talquetamab, a bispecific antibody, as a bridging therapy before BCMA-targeted CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma patients, showing promising results with high response rates and manageable toxicities. Next, Dr. Bierings identified patients with genetic variants in the guanine exchange factor MAP kinase–activating death domain (MADD) that impair VWF secretion from endothelial cells and possibly cause VWD type 1. Featured ArticlesA novel cause of type 1 von Willebrand disease: impaired exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies due to biallelic MADD variantsSophie Hordijk, Stijn A. Groten, Petra E. Bürgisser, Sebastiaan N. J. Laan, Georg Christoph Korenke, Tomáš Honzík, Diane Beysen, Frank W. G. Leebeek, Paul A. Skehel, Maartje van den Biggelaar, Tom Carter, Ruben BieringsSequential targeting in multiple myeloma: talquetamab, a GPRC5D bispecific antibody, as a bridge to BCMA CAR-T therapyBinod Dhakal, Othman S. Akhtar, David Fandrei, Alexandria Jensen, Rahul Banerjee, Darren Pan, Shambavi Richard, Reed Friend, Matthew Rees, Patrick Costello, Mariola Vazquez Martinez, Oren Pasvolsky, Charlotte Wagner, James A. Davis, Omar Castaneda Puglianini, Ran Reshef, Aimaz Afrough, Danai Dima, Manisha Bhutani, Omar Nadeem, Ricardo Parrondo, Ciara Freeman, Lekha Mikkilineni, Shahzad Raza, Larry D. Anderson Jr, Prashant Kapoor, Hitomi Hosoya, Saurabh Chhabra, Ariel Grajales-Cruz, Mahmoud Gaballa, Shonali Midha, Melissa Alsina, Douglas Sborov, Krina Patel, Yi Lin, Christopher Ferreri, Nico Gagelmann, Anupama Kumar, Doris Hansen, Andrew Cowan, Luciano J. Costa, Maximilian Merz, Surbhi Sidana

In this Spotlight series episode on Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Blood Editor, Dr. Selina Luger interviews Drs. Laura Michaelis and Alexander Perl on their paper in the series titled “The fit older adult with acute myeloid leukemia: clinical challenges to providing evidence-based frontline treatment”. The conversation explores challenges in treating AML across different patient populations. They also focus on treatment approaches for fit older adults with AML, highlighting the need for less toxic therapies and ongoing randomized trials to better understand treatment efficacy. See the full spotlight series on Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Volume 145 Issue 24 of Blood journal. 

In this week's episode we’ll learn more about a study comparing busulfan-melphalan with melphalan alone as the conditioning protocol for newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible multiple myeloma; then we will discuss data on how three-dimensional transcriptomics can reveal complex interactions between plasma cells and bone marrow microenvironments.Featured ArticlesHigh-dose busulfan-melphalan vs melphalan and reinforced VRD for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: a phase 3 GEM trialProfiling the spatial architecture of multiple myeloma in human bone marrow trephine biopsy specimens with spatial transcriptomicsPreclinical advances in glofitamab combinations: a new frontier for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Sung-Yun Pai, a clinician-researcher specializing in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, shares vital insights on the latest treatment advancements. He discusses the evolving risk-benefit calculus in therapies due to safer options and longer follow-ups. The conversation highlights challenges like late diagnosis, donor matching, and limited access to gene therapy. Pai stresses the urgency of early referrals to specialized centers and deliberates on the decision-making process between transplant and gene therapy, emphasizing the complexities of achieving full correction.

Explore groundbreaking advances in hemophilia treatment with marstacimab, which effectively reduces bleeding without inhibitors. Discover how matched-donor allogeneic CD19 CAR-T therapy enhances outcomes for adult B-ALL patients, showcasing impressive efficacy after lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Dive into the new CLIPI prognostic index for T-cell cutaneous lymphomas, which could revolutionize patient management by identifying those needing intensified treatment based on key risk factors. Tune in for fascinating insights and developments in hematology!