Blood Podcast

In this week’s episode, new research shows that in children with sickle cell disease, stem cell transplantation normalizes blood flow in the brain. The improvements in cerebral hemodynamics seen in this study may help explain the stroke protection seen following transplant in this high-risk patient population. Next up, a research article providing new insights on thrombocytopenia related to the GALE gene, including the identification of several previously unreported variants. The findings highlight the importance of GALE in the glycosylation of proteins that play a role in the production and function of platelets. Finally, we’ll review a brief report on NPM1-mutated AML with adverse cytogenetics in light of the updated ELN 2022 classification. In short, adverse-risk cytogenetics remain significantly associated with unfavorable prognosis under the refined definitions, supporting the recent categorization of this entity as adverse-risk.

In this bonus episode Associate Editor, Dr. Bertie Göttgens and Dr. Ravi Majeti discuss the series on Single Cell Genomics and Heme Malignancies-Leukemia/MPNs.   Blood Review Series on Single-Cell Genomics

In this week’s episode we’ll discuss the benefits of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in older and medically infirm patients with AML, learn more about the efficacy and safety of cilta-cel in patients with progressive multiple myeloma after exposure to other BCMA-targeting agents, and review the role of anti-CD20 therapy in relapsed immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss new research revealing that the mechanosensory ion channel Piezo1 is the elusive carrier molecule of the Er blood group antigens, thus establishing a new blood group system. Next, we review results of a randomized phase 3 trial of enasidenib versus conventional treatment in late-stage mutant-IDH2 relapsed or refractory AML. Although the primary endpoint of overall survival was not met, investigators say the risk benefit ratio remains positive. Finally, we’ll review a study showing a clinically significant risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in patients with B-cell malignancies despite vaccination and pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab-cilgavimab during the Omicron era. However, hospitalization rates in the study were low and no deaths were reported.

In this week’s episode we’ll discuss whether pregnancy increases the risk of bleeding in women with immune thrombocytopenia, compare the outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation versus conservative management in adults with inborn errors of immunity, and learn more about the long-term health outcomes and late mortality in childhood AML survivors.

In this episode, Associate Editor, Dr. Robert Zeiser and Dr. Yi-Bin Chen discuss the series on How I Manage High-Risk Patients Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

In this week’s episode, we'll discuss involvement of IL-13 and IL-4 signaling in fibrotic progression of myelofibrosis; next, we review results on a novel agent using vWF-dependent mechanisms to lyse pathological thrombi in acute ischemic stroke. Finally, we’ll shed new light on findings that implicate the GARP-TGF-beta-1 pathway in the loss of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in relapsed AML.

In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss the effects of iron repletion on the quality of donated red blood cells and donor well-being, learn more about the long-term outcomes of patients with relapsed/refractory hairy cell leukemia after vemurafenib monotherapy, and discuss the use of off-the-shelf cryopreserved platelets for detecting heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

In this week’s episode, research shows that in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS, the frequency of pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants is relatively high across all age groups, not just younger patients. Based on these results, it may be time to expand genetic testing to all patients.  Next, we'll review primary results of a prospective, multicenter study of children with acute leukemias or MDS who underwent T-cell receptor αβ+ and CD19+ cell-depleted haploidentical HCT with reduced-toxicity conditioning. Finally, an emerging unmet need related to CAR T cell therapy: patients who progress after receiving CAR T cells have poor outcomes and no agreed upon standard of care. We’ll review findings from a large registry study demonstrating infrequent responses to post-CAR T cell treatment and short survival times, highlighting a need for novel strategies.

In this week’s episode we’ll discuss the newly developed PRISM score for risk prediction of venous thromboembolism in multiple myeloma, learn more about relapse-promoting effects of azithromycin after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and discuss the efficacy of off-the-shelf natural killer cells in preventing antigen escape in lymphoma and leukemia.