Hematologic Oncology

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan has approved quizartinib for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory FTL3-ITD–positive acute myeloid leukemia, as detected by an MHLW-approved assay.

Susan M. O’Brien, MD, associate director for Clinical Services, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine Medical Center, discusses the phase III ASCEND trial in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Hu5F9-G4 (5F9), a first-in-class antibody targeting CD47, used as monotherapy or in combination with standard azacitidine was well tolerated and provided deep and durable responses in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, according to findings from a phase IB study presented at the 2019 European Hematology Association Congress.

Gail Roboz, MD, a professor of medicine and director of the Clinical and Translational Leukemia Program at Weill Cornell MedicineNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses the QuANTUM-R trial, which evaluated quizartinib versus chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia.

Naval G. Daver, MD, discusses the data that support quizartinib so far, ongoing investigations with this drug in the frontline setting, and the potential for the agent to be approved by the FDA.

Imetelstat treatment may allow patients with debilitating anemia due to myelodysplastic syndrome to remain transfusion-free for extended periods of time.