Blood Podcast

In this week’s episode, we’ll review a research article that provides the first description of a targeted gene insertion approach to correct the genetic mutation underlying XMEN disease. Next, we’ll cover results of a phase 2 study that provides proof-of-principle that the JAK/STAT pathway is a promising target for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphomas. We’ll close with a study providing precise and up-to-date estimates on the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with hemophilia that could have important implications for preventive strategies.

In this week’s episode, we’ll review a research article demonstrating that some platelet-derived extracellular vesicles harbor proteasomes that can process and present antigens via MHC class I molecules. Next, we’ll review results of a phase 1 study of a fibril-reactive monoclonal antibody that was well tolerated and led to rapid, sustained organ responses in patients with AL amyloidosis. We’ll close with a research article suggesting that the pore-forming protein gasdermin D, which plays a crucial role in the release of neutrophil extracellular traps, is a promising drug target in sepsis.

In this week’s episode, we’ll talk about the functional properties of mesenchymal stromal cells in sickle cell disease, learn more about CAR T-cell-mediated hematotoxicity in relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma, and discuss dual cytokine blockade in graft-versus-host disease.

In this week’s episode, we’ll learn about a new approach for targeting Janus kinases in CRLF2-rearranged ALL, discuss risk stratification for myeloid leukemia in children with Down syndrome and learn more about how sialic acid alterations on megakaryocyte antigens regulate immune cells and platelet production.

First on today’s podcast, we’ll review results of a randomized phase 2 study demonstrating that inhibition of ROCK2 with belumosudil is well tolerated and effective in patients with steroid-refractory graft-versus-host disease. Next, we’ll review the work of researchers who have uncovered new insights into the immunopathogenesis of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. And we’ll close with a report of a prospective longitudinal analysis that elucidates the dynamics of mutated hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells during therapy with interferon-alpha in patients with BCR-ABL1 negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.

All four studies included in this podcast present preliminary data with modest numbers of patients, and therefore, the findings should be interpreted with these limitations. Likewise, the impact of specific strains and waning antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccination will require further follow-up, since the Delta variant was not the dominant strain in circulation at the time of this research. The first two studies assess the immune responses to vaccination in two specific high-risk populations, namely, patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The last two studies, one from a large European consortium and the other based on nationwide data from Israel, report on the incidence, risk factors and short-term outcomes of COVID-19 breakthrough infection in vaccinated patients with hematologic malignancies.

In this week’s episode, we’ll learn more about the efficacy of asciminib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who are resistant or intolerant to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors, discuss the role of dopamine signaling in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function, and learn more about elevated plasma concentration of complement factor C5 as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism.

In this week’s episode, we’ll review results of a phase 2 study showing the beneficial effects of a first-in-class factor D inhibitor as add-on therapy in PNH patients who remain anemic and are transfusion-dependent despite C5 inhibition. Next, we’ll review the work of researchers who have developed a neural network that they say is highly accurate in differentiating between bone marrow cell morphologies. We’ll close with a report demonstrating that RNA editing of antizyme inhibitor 1, or Azin1, is a novel regulator of hematopoietic cell fate that can influence self-renewal and differentiation.

In this week’s episode, we’ll learn more about the application of machine learning in molecular subclassification and prognostication of acute myeloid leukemia or AML, discuss the role of aging bone marrow in leukemia progression, and learn more about the challenges in treating bleeding disorders of unknown cause.

In this week’s episode, we’ll review a research article showing beneficial effects of prenatal immunotherapy in a mouse model of anti-CD36-mediated fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Next, we’ll look at results of a simulation analysis suggesting that gene therapy for hemophilia B is more cost-effective than on-demand or prophylactic factor treatment. We’ll conclude with a report which provides important new insights into regulation of terminal erythroid maturation at the transcriptional level that may help improve our understanding of normal and abnormal erythropoiesis.