American Society of Hematology: 64th Annual Meeting Review

A variety of scientific discoveries, clinical trial results, and information about malignant and nonmalignant hematologic disorders emerged at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) held last December. The plenary session consisted of several presentations and covered a wide range of topics. Martin Dreyling, MD, discussed the European MCL Network’s TRIANGLE trial, a large, 3-arm study on the efficacy and safety of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) combined with standard first-line treatment as a substitute for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in younger patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).¹ Results showed improved progression-free survival with ibrutinib compared with ASCT alone. Depending on the ability to obtain ibrutinib as part of the MCL patient’s maintenance in first remission, this study may change the standard of care for this patient population.

Catherine Broome, MD, presented the final analysis of the ADVANCE IV trial on the efficacy and safety of intravenous efgartigimod (EFG) in adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia.² Compared with placebo, EFG showed an early platelet increase, higher sustained platelet response, and more weeks with a platelet count of 50×10⁹/L or greater. EFG achieved the primary and all platelet-related secondary end points, and 51.2% of participants on EFG achieved IWG response criteria vs 20% of patients on placebo. EFG was well tolerated with no new safety signals.

Johannes Schetelig, MD, presented results from the ASAP trial assessing the benefit of intensive remission induction therapy prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia.³ All these abstracts may lead to changes in the standard of care for these conditions.

Perhaps more important than the presentations themselves was the ability of attendees to interact and exchange information in person. In recent years, such interactions had not been possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though we all appreciate how technology allows us to connect with our peers, nothing is quite the same as in-person education and collaboration. At the same time, the ability to access the meeting online allows many more physician-scientists to learn from one another regardless of location. ASH continues to be the premier hematology meeting of the year.

References

1. Dreyling M, Doorduijn JK, Gine E, et al. Efficacy and safety of ibrutinib combined with standard first-line treatment or as substitute for autologous stem cell transplantation in younger patients with mantle cell lymphoma: results from the randomized Triangle trial by the European MCL Network. Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):1-3. doi:10.1182/blood-2022-163018
2. Broome CM, McDonald V, Miyakawa Y, et al. Efficacy and safety of intravenous efgartigimod in adults with primary immune thrombocytopenia: results of a phase 3, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial (ADVANCE IV). Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):6-8. doi:10.1182/blood-2022-167838
3. Stelljes M, Middeke JM, Bug G, et al. In patients with relapsed/refractory AML sequential conditioning and immediate allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) results in similar overall and leukemia-free survival compared to intensive remission induction chemotherapy followed by allo-HCT: results from the randomized phase III ASAP trial. Blood. 2022;140(suppl 1):9-11. doi:10.1182/blood-2022-159962