Blood Podcast

In this week’s episode we discuss encouraging results of a phase 2 study using a sequential ibrutinib-venetoclax treatment approach driven by MRD findings in individual patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL. Next, we examine new research demonstrating that donor natural killer cells trigger release of beta-2 microglobulin by host dendritic cells, greatly accelerating donor-derived immune reconstitution after allogeneic bone marrow transplant in mice. We’ll look at the therapeutic implications of this as well. Lastly, we review a study of retinoic acid resistance in a mouse model of variant acute promyelocytic leukemia. Resistance was driven by the epigenetic regulator EZH2, which suggests the potential for an EZH2-targeted therapeutic approach.

In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss patient-reported outcomes in the phase 3 ZUMA-7 trial of CAR T-cell therapy in second-line relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma, learn more about the association between the loss of α4A- and β1-tubulin and severe platelet spherocytosis, and discuss the interaction between prebiotic galactooligosaccharides and mouse gut microbiota in graft-versus-host disease.

In this week’s episode we discuss the role of allogeneic transplant in adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In a retrospective study, transplant provided no survival benefit in patients with rapid and deep responses to induction therapy that included BCR-ABL1 inhibitors. Up next, we discuss the evidence for an increased risk of ventricular arrythmias with use of acalabrutinib, which has emerged as a class effect of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Lastly, we examine a novel, alloantigen-specific model to test the efficacy of a prophylactic treatment strategy for preventing fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia.

In this week’s episode, we’ll learn more about the impact of dietary methionine restriction on the progression of AML, discuss transferrin upregulation as a cause of high-altitude-induced hypercoagulability, and learn more about the protective effects of leukemia inhibitory factor against graft-versus-host disease.

In this week’s episode, we will review a study that cell-free hemoglobin S was found to induce high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine production in monocytes. The effect is mediated by Toll-like receptor 4, or TLR4, suggesting intriguing therapeutic possibilities for sickle cell disease.  Secondly, germinal center B cells with aberrant expression profiles undergo independent clonal evolution in the microenvironment of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. New findings published in Blood elucidate mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and uncover a new potential target for treatment. Finally, an upfront combination of three immunosuppressive agents was highly effective and well tolerated in patients with acquired hemophilia A. Although prospective studies are needed, the triple regimen could be an attractive treatment option, particularly for elderly and frail patients.

In this week’s episode we’ll discuss the role of epigenetic regulator genes in lineage switching in MLL/AF4 leukemia, learn more about the efficacy of ibrutinib in mantle cell lymphoma with central nervous system relapse, and discuss the findings from a phase 3 trial of gilteritinib plus azacitidine in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML.

In this week’s episode we will review data showing that lenalidomide promotes development of TP53-mutated, therapy-related myeloid neoplasms. Next, we'll discuss the first prospective study to evaluate abnormal uterine bleeding in women starting anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism. Lastly, we'll review an optimized tri-specific antibody that overcomes immune escape and enhances therapeutic efficacy in a patient-derived xenograft model of B-cell ALL.

Megakaryocytes contribute to multiple processes in the body, including platelet production and regulation of hematopoietic stem cells. Therefore, it is not surprising that alterations in this lineage not only affect platelets but also impact hematopoiesis in other ways. Fortunately, our understanding of megakaryocyte biology has increased significantly with the advent of advanced technologies such as next-generation sequencing and sophisticated microscopy.Blood Review Series on Megakaryopoiesis and Platelet Production

In this week’s episode we’ll learn more about the prognostic impact of NPM1 and FLT3 mutations in AML, discuss the progression and survival of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis, and learn more about the use of red blood cells derived from pluripotent stem cells in transfusion medicine.

In this week’s episode we'll review results of the largest retrospective study to date of allogeneic transplantation in adult patients with inborn errors of immunity. We’ll then discuss intriguing new research demonstrating that erythroblastic islands in the bone marrow foster granulopoiesis alongside terminal erythropoiesis—which lays a foundation for better understanding how blood cell production is regulated within these niches.