August 2020
Volume 6, Issue 10
This issue looks at the rapid expansion of telemedicine, explores access to leukemia treatment in Brazil, and more.
Table of Contents
August 2020 Issue
Editor’s Corner: The Zoombie Apocalypse
Last Thursday, due to a calendar snafu, I found myself scheduled for videoconferences continuously from 8 a.m. until after 10 p.m. That meant 14...
The Subspecialist Will Televisit You Now
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, health-care providers, payers, and patients had all gradually warmed up to the opportunities for telemedicine afforded by high-speed internet...
Reader Response: Is warfarin recommended for a patient with recurrent coronary artery closure?
Here’s how readers responded to a You Make the Call question about management of a patient with recurrent coronary artery closure.
Disclaimer: ASH does not recommend...
August 2020 Issue
Combination of Tafasitamab and Lenalidomide Leads to Durable Responses in Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL
For patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are ineligible for hematopoietic cell transplantation, treatment with a combination of the...
Inflammatory Biomarkers at Presentation May Predict Thrombosis in COVID-19
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have identified several markers at presentation that predict coagulation-associated complications in patients with COVID-19: elevated D-dimer, C-reactive...
Givosiran Reduces Porphyria Attacks Among Patients With Acute Intermittent Porphyria
Compared with placebo, treatment with the RNA interference therapy givosiran lowered the rate of porphyria attacks in patients with acute intermittent porphyria, the most...
Charles L. Sawyers Elected AACR President, Young Investigators Receive More Than $1 Million From...
Charles L. Sawyers Elected 2020-21 AACR President
The Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announced Charles L. Sawyers, MD, as the AACR...
Indication Expanded for Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin
The FDA has extended the indication of gemtuzumab ozogamicin to include pediatric patients aged 1 month or older with newly diagnosed CD33-positive acute myeloid...
Higher Hydroxyurea Dose Does NOHARM in Sub-Saharan African Children With Sickle Cell Disease
According to results from the NOHARM (Novel use Of Hydroxyurea in an African Region with Malaria) maximum tolerated dose (MTD) trial, dose-escalated hydroxyurea controlled...
Oral Selinexor Approved for Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL
The FDA has granted accelerated approval to selinexor for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including DLBCL...
White House Extends Work Visa Suspensions
The White House has announced the restriction of several categories of work visas for non-American citizens, in response to high unemployment levels following the...
Examining Toxicities of CAR T-Cell Therapy in Patients With DLBCL
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been an important addition to the treatment options for patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)....
FDA Releases Statistical Guidance for Clinical Trials Affected by COVID-19
The FDA has released new guidance regarding statistical considerations for clinical trials affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of maintaining integrity of...
ASH Releases Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Pain in Sickle Cell Disease, and...
ASH Releases Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Pain in Sickle Cell Disease
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has released new clinical practice guidelines...
August 2020 Issue
Pulling Back the Curtain: Allen Yang, MD, PhD
In this edition, Allen Yang, MD, PhD, speaks about working in industry and academia – and the careers that got away.
Where did you grow...
Improving Access to Leukemia Treatment in Brazil
With more than 200 million people, Brazil has the largest population of any South American country and is currently the seventh most populous country...
Medicine’s New Virtual Reality
Providers discuss the almost overnight adoption of telemedicine – and their hopes for its future.
When asked how often telehealth or virtual patient visits...
August 2020 Issue
You Make the Call: Is warfarin recommended for a patient with recurrent coronary artery closure?
This month, Michael Kroll, MD, discusses management of a patient with recurrent coronary artery closure.
And don’t forget to check out next month’s clinical dilemma – send in...
August 2020 Issue
Isatuximab Plus Carfilzomib: A New Standard for Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma?
The three-drug combination of the CD38-targeting antibody isatuximab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple...
ANDROMEDA: Subcutaneous Daratumumab for Newly Diagnosed Light Chain Amyloidosis
Adding subcutaneous daratumumab to the combination of cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) resulted in deeper and more rapid hematologic responses and improved clinical outcomes,...
Idecabtagene Vicleucel Demonstrates Deep, Durable Responses in Relapsed/Refractory Myeloma
The BCMA-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy idecabtagene vicleucel (previously known as bb2121) induced responses in nearly three-quarters of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple...
A New CAR T-Cell Target for T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia?
The anti-CD7 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy TruUCAR GC027 demonstrated promising efficacy in treating adults with relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia...
Adding Venetoclax to Azacitidine Improves Response and Survival Rates in Treatment-Naïve AML
A combination of the hypomethylating agent azacitidine and the small-molecule BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax was associated with a 34% reduction in the risk of death,...
Ibrutinib Improves Response and Survival Rates in CNS Relapse of Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Compared with standard immunochemotherapy, treatment with ibrutinib was associated with higher response rates and survival rates in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and...
Pegcetacoplan Outperforms Eculizumab for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Results from the phase III PEGASUS trial suggest that the targeted C3 inhibitor pegcetacoplan improved hemoglobin levels better than eculizumab in patients with paroxysmal...
Evaluating MBG453 Plus Decitabine or Azacitidine in High-Risk MDS and AML
The anti-TIM-3 checkpoint inhibitor MBG453, when added to decitabine or azacitidine, was associated with antileukemic activity and durable response rates in patients with higher-risk...
