VJHemOnc Podcast

This VJHemOnc podcast explores the latest advances in gene-based therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia, highlighting progress in patient access, selection, treatment delivery, and clinical outcomes. Sunil Gupta, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, MBA, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, London, UK, discusses expanding access to gene therapy for patients with SCD, while Alexander Ngwube, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, shares insights into real-world patient selection and decision-making. Rabi Hanna, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, outlines key considerations for selecting patients with SCD and thalassemia for gene therapy, discusses strategies to optimize the treatment pathway from stem cell mobilization to long-term follow-up, and reviews results from the RUBY trial (NCT04853576) of gene editing therapy in severe SCD. Zachary Crees, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, also highlights emerging mobilization approaches, including motixafortide-based strategies to improve stem cell collection for gene therapy.

This episode reviews major advances presented at the EBMT 2026 meeting in Madrid, covering novel treatments for acute and chronic GVHD, including a promising microbiome-based therapy, and new targeted agents. Experts discuss the growing importance of donor germline genetics, updated guidance for Hodgkin lymphoma transplantation, the shifting role of CAR T‑cell therapy in non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, and how measurable residual disease (MRD) is shaping transplant decisions and post‑transplant care. Overall, the episode highlights how these developments are improving personalization and outcomes in haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

This VJHemOnc podcast introduces the first edition of Myeloid Monthly, focusing on key developments in myeloid malignancies. Amer Zeidan, MD, Yale University, New Haven, CT, is joined by Robert Hasserjian, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Sanam Loghavi, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, to discuss breaking updates from the Classification Advancement Meeting (CAM), held in Chicago in March 2026. The panel explores the evolving classification of myeloid neoplasms, including the shift from morphology to molecular genetics, key differences between the WHO and ICC systems, and areas of ongoing debate such as MDS, AML, and overlap syndromes. They also discuss the process of harmonising these frameworks, the clinical implications for diagnosis, trial design, and patient care, and how CAM recommendations are expected to inform a future unified WHO classification.

This VJHemOnc podcast explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming hematologic oncology, from clinical research and diagnostics to risk prediction and therapy development. Aaron Gerds, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, discusses AI-driven approaches to improving clinical trial enrollment, while Stephen Ansell, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, highlights advances in AI-based pathology for lymphoma classification. Ciara Freeman, MD, PhD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, examines multimodal AI for predicting CAR T-cell outcomes, while Zinaida Good, PhD, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and Andrea Schmidts, MD, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany, explore AI applications in CAR T-cell design. Gianluca Asti, MSc, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy, discusses federated learning for data sharing, and Amin Turki, MD, PhD, Ruhr-University Hospital Bochum and University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, highlights challenges in real-world AI implementation.

This VJHemOnc podcast explores the evolving role of measurable residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), from prognostic marker to clinical endpoint. Harry Erba, MD, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC, discusses the potential of MRD as a surrogate endpoint in AML, while Bruno Paiva, PhD, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, presents supporting evidence from large registry analyses. Amin Turki, MD, PhD, Ruhr-University Hospital Bochum and University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, highlights the integration of MRD into risk stratification, while Wendy Stock, MD, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, reviews MRD detection methods, emerging technologies, and practical implementation in ALL.

Nurses play a key role in the CAR T-cell therapy process. In this podcast episode, you will hear insights into nursing in CAR-T and cellular therapy through exclusive interviews from the recent EBMT-EHA 8th European CAR T-cell Meeting.    First, Erik Aerts, RN, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, will walk through the CAR T-cell process from a nursing perspective, and Mairéad Ní Chonghaile, RGN, BNS, MSc, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, will emphasize the importance of a true collaborative approach to care in the CAR-T process and discuss how to appropriately address fears or misconceptions patients may have. You will then hear from Thomas Jezequel, MSc, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France, who will comment on the role of social media in a patient’s CAR T-cell therapy journey and share messages for young nurses in the cellular therapy space. Finally, Jemma Stewart, nurse educator, and Ella Weisser, clinical nurse specialist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, will provide insight into the recommended frequency of Immune Effector Cell-Associated Encephalopathy (ICE) assessment in patients receiving CAR-T.

Today’s episode of the VJHemOnc podcast features updates from a number of clinical trials exploring BTK inhibitors (BTKi) and BTKi-containing regimens in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that were presented at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting.  First, you will hear updates in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) trials from Michael Wang, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Austin Kim, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, and Tycel Phillips, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA. Following this, Chan Cheah, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, DMSc, Linear Clinical Research and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia, and Jorge Castillo, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, share BTKi trial updates in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM). Finally, Lorenzo Falchi, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discusses the preliminary results of the MITHIC-FL2 trial (NCT05389293) investigating mosunetuzumab plus zanubrutinib in newly diagnosed high-burden follicular lymphoma (FL), and Jason Westin, MD, FACP, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, presents the primary analysis of the Smart Stop trial (NCT04978584), which evaluated a four-drug combination in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

This VJHemOnc podcast highlights key AL amyloidosis updates from ASH 2025, spanning risk stratification, optimisation of frontline therapy, emerging immunotherapies, and MRD assessment. Jahanzaib Khwaja, MD, FRCPath, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, discusses a newly validated staging system defining ultra-high-risk AL amyloidosis in the era of daratumumab-based therapy. Vaishali Sanchorawala, MD, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, presents Phase II AQUARIUS trial (NCT05250973) data evaluating daratumumab-VCd dosing in newly diagnosed disease and shares Phase I trail (NCT06158854) results of the BCMA x CD3 bispecific antibody etentamig in relapsed or refractory AL amyloidosis. Heather Landau, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, reviews early results from the NEXICART-2 trial (NCT06097832) of the BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy NXC-201. Andrew Staron, MD, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, discusses the prognostic significance of sustained MRD negativity, while Matthew Rees, MD, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, presents real-world data on BCMA-directed CAR T-cell and bispecific therapies in systemic AL amyloidosis.

This VJHemOnc podcast highlights key acute myeloid leukemia (AML) updates from ASH 2025, spanning frontline therapy, molecularly targeted approaches, venetoclax-based combinations, and emerging immunotherapies. Amir Fathi, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, discusses the Phase II PARADIGM study (NCT04801797) comparing azacitidine plus venetoclax with intensive chemotherapy, alongside updated KOMET-007 trial (NCT05735184) results of ziftomenib plus azacitidine and venetoclax in NPM1-mutated or KMT2A-rearranged AML. Alexander Perl, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, reviews the Phase I/II VICEROY study (NCT05520567) of venetoclax, azacitidine, and gilteritinib in newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML ineligible for intensive therapy. Naval Daver, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, presents a Phase Ib/II trial (NCT04086264) of pivekimab sunirine plus azacitidine and venetoclax in unfit newly diagnosed AML. Wei-Ying Jen, MA, BM BCh, M Med, MRCP, FRCPath, shares results of the Phase II SAVE study (NCT05360160) exploring an all-oral revumenib, decitabine/cedazuridine, and venetoclax regimen, while Mohammad Maher Abdul-Hay, MD, NYU Langone Health, New York City, NY, discusses early data from the Phase I trial (NCT05143996) of the FLT3 x CD3 bispecific CLN-049 in relapsed or refractory AML.

In this episode of the VJHemOnc Podcast, we focus on the management and prevention of differentiation syndrome in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). We begin with a discussion with Yasmin Abaza, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, on the biological basis of differentiation syndrome, the rationale and mechanism behind steroid prophylaxis, and how the supporting evidence has developed over time. Yannis Valtis, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, then briefly comments on emerging therapeutic approaches and the need for prospective trials to better define their role. 

This podcast highlights key non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) updates from ASH 2025 across follicular lymphoma (FL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. John Burke, MD, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Denver, CO, presents the MorningSun study (NCT05207670) of subcutaneous mosunetuzumab in previously untreated FL, while Lorenzo Falchi, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discusses the MITHIC-FL2 trial (NCT05389293) of mosunetuzumab plus zanubrutinib in newly diagnosed FL, followed by results from EPCORE FL-1 (NCT05409066) comparing epcoritamab plus R2 versus R2 alone in relapsed or refractory disease. In DLBCL, Matthew Matasar, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, reviews the Phase III OLYMPIA-3 trial (NCT06091865), Jason Westin, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, discusses the Smart Stop study (NCT04978584), and Umberto Vitolo, MD, University of Turin, Italy, with Lorenzo Falchi, covers fixed-duration epcoritamab from the EPCORE DLBCL-3 (NCT05660967) and EPCORE NHL-2 (NCT04663347) trials. Saurabh Dahiya, MD, shares early CAR T-cell data with KITE-753 and KITE-363, Michael Wang, MD, presents Phase I/II sonrotoclax results in MCL (NCT05471843), and Nirav Shah, MD, reviews Phase Ia/b bexobrutideg data in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (NCT05131022).

This podcast features key updates in multiple myeloma from ASH 2025. Luciano Costa, MD, PhD, UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, discusses redefining functional high-risk myeloma, followed by Nisha Joseph, MD, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, who shares results from a Phase II dose-optimization study (NCT04068597) of inobrodib with pomalidomide and dexamethasone. Updates on CAR T-cell therapies are given by Shambavi Richard, MD, Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, Krina Patel, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Samir Parekh, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY. Finally, Salomon Manier, MD, PhD, Lille Hospital University, Lille, France, Dickran Kazandjian, MD, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, Shahzad Raza, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, Luciano Costa, MD, PhD, UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, and Amrita Krishnan, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, discuss T-cell engaging antibodies.

This podcast features updates in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from ASH 2025. Talha Munir, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK, discusses the Phase III FLAIR study (ISRCTN01844152), followed by Matthew Davids, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, who shares further insights. Carsten Niemann, MD, PhD, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, shares long-term follow-up results from the GAIA/CLL13 (NCT02950051) trial. Paolo Ghia, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, shares insights into the Phase III ​BELLWAVE-010 study (NCT05947851), followed by Jennifer Woyach, MD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, who discusses Phase I results (NCT04775745) of a novel BTK inhibitor rocbrutinib. Finally, Chan Cheah, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, DMSc, Linear Clinical Research and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia, discusses the CaDAnCe-104 trial (NCT06634589) of the BTK degrader BGB-16673, and Barbara Eichhorst, MD, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany, shares two-year follow-up results from the EPCORE CLL-1 trial (NCT04623541) of epcoritamab monotherapy in Richter’s transformation.

In this podcast episode, leading experts share key updates in the management of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) from ASH 2025. Amer Zeidan, MBBS, MHS, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, highlights data from the MAXILUS trial (NCT06045689), new insights from the IMerge study (NCT02598661), and early findings with bexmarilimab in higher-risk MDS (HR-MDS). This is followed by Valeria Santini, MD, University of Florence, Florence, Italy, who discusses long-term outcomes from IMerge and a post-hoc analysis of the COMMANDS trial (NCT03682536). Jacqueline Garcia, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, provides perspective on the Phase III VERONA trial (NCT04401748) of azacitidine plus venetoclax in HR-MDS, and Daniel Wiseman, MBChB, PhD, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, presents results from the Phase II AMMO study (ISRCTN30808508) in MDS-myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) overlap syndromes. Finally, Prof. Santini returns to address current debates and controversial topics in the diagnosis and treatment of MDS.

In this podcast episode, leading experts provide valuable insight into the management of sickle cell disease (SCD). First, Samah Babiker, MBBS, MRCP-UK, FRCPath, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, London, UK, and Payal Desai, MD, Levine Cancer Institute & Wake Forest School of Medicine, Charlotte, NC, discuss the challenges associated with the transition from pediatric to adult care and how to support patients through this period. Following this, Enrico Novelli, MD, MS, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, shares insight into the management of vaso-occlusive crises, and Subarna Chakravorty, MBBS, FRCPath, MRCPCH, PhD, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, comments on whether MRI brain assessment should be routinely performed in all patients with SCD.

This episode of the VJHemOnc podcast focuses on accelerated and blast-phase myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN-AP/BP), offering insights into their diagnosis and management from leading experts. First, in an interview with Anand Patel, MD, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, you will hear about the diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic strategies being explored for patients with MPN-AP/BP. Dr Patel will also comment on the role and timing of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) in this patient population. Following this, experts Adam Mead, MA, BM, BCh, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK, Charlotte Brierley, MA, BM BCh, MRCP, DPhil, FRCPath, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK, and Juan Carlos Hernández-Boluda, MD, PhD, Hospital Clinic of Valencia, Valencia, Spain, will discuss the challenges of managing MPN-AP/BP, highlighting the need for biomarkers to identify patients at risk of aggressive disease progression. 

This podcast features experts Mark Levis, MD, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, Sanam Loghavi, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Eunice Wang, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, who debate the value and utility of measurable residual disease (MRD) in the management of adults with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The discussion explores current limitations of MRD assays, the challenges of standardization, and the importance of integrating multiple modalities. This took place at the 7th International Workshop on Acute Leukemias (iwAL 2025), held in Washington, DC.

This episode of the VJHemOnc Podcast features discussions from the 2nd International Workshop on High-Risk Multiple Myeloma (iwHRMM 2025), held in Charleston, SC. First, you will hear from Ross Firestone, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, Nisha Joseph, MD, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and Ajai Chari, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, who provide insight into immuno- and targeted therapies in HRMM. This is followed by Peter Voorhees, MD, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, NC, and Holly Lee, MD, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, who discuss resistance to these therapies, highlighting the mechanisms of resistance and potential strategies to overcome them.

This podcast features discussions from the 22nd International Workshop on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (iwNHL), which took place in Cambridge, MA. The discussions focus on immunotherapy and novel combinations being explored for the treatment of NHL. Featuring experts Martin Hutchings, MD, PhD, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, Elizabeth Budde, MD, PhD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, Lorenzo Falchi, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, and Sameh Gaballa, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, who share insights into bispecific antibodies and other immunotherapeutics in early lines of treatment. This is followed by Laurie Sehn, MD, MPH, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada, Juan Alderuccio, MD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, and Gilles Salles, MD, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, who delve deeper into antibody-based combinations.

In this episode of the VJHemOnc Podcast, we are joined by Shai Shimony, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, and Richard Stone, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, to discuss recent guideline updates on the risk stratification and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The experts discuss differences in the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Consensus Classification (ICC) definitions, the recent European Leukemia Network (ELN) updates to risk stratification, incorporating measurable residual disease (MRD) into therapeutic decision-making, and biomarkers or stratification approaches on the horizon.

VJHemOnc recently attended the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (XXI iwCLL 2025) in Krakow, Poland, where there was a session focused on the management of CLL in resource-limited settings. Today's podcast episode highlights discussions from this session. First, you will hear from Mazyar Shadman, MD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, who discusses the development of resource-restricted recommendations for CLL. This is followed by Anna Schuh, MD, PhD, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Andrielle Yost, MPA, The Max Foundation, Seattle, WA, and Catherina Scheepers, The Max Foundation, Gauteng, South Africa, who share ongoing projects by iwCLL and The Max Foundation to improve access to treatment and patient outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Finally, Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), CLL Society, Inc., Chula Vista, CA, discusses the six principles for excellence that healthcare professionals and patient advocacy organizations should be aware of when caring for patients with CLL. 

This episode of our Blood Cancer Awareness Month series explores the role of the multi-disciplinary team in caring for patients with blood cancer undergoing CAR T-cell therapy. The discussion features insights from Ty Simpson, BN, MNP, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia, who is a CAR-T nurse practitioner, and Frederick Vonberg, MD, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, who is a neurologist with a primary research interest in the neurotoxic effects of CAR T-cell therapy. This is followed by Angela Halley, MBBS, BSc, MSc, FRCP, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK, who is a consultant in palliative medicine with an interest in developing early integrated palliative care in hematology, including patients undergoing CAR-T treatment and stem cell transplant.

Welcome to the next episode in our Blood Cancer Awareness Month series. In this podcast, Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, discusses financial and time toxicities in cancer care, explaining how out-of-pocket costs and the time spent receiving treatment impair patients' lives. Dr Banerjee shares insights from his own clinical experience, with a focus on patients with multiple myeloma. 

Welcome to the first episode of our Blood Cancer Awareness Month special on VJHemOnc. In this podcast, leading experts answer your most pressing questions on blood cancers. Barbara Eichhorst, MD, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany, discusses chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), followed by Rakesh Popat, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, University College London Hospitals, London, UK, who addresses key questions on myeloma. Finally, Anna Sureda, MD, PhD, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Duran I Reynals Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, shares insights on lymphoma.

This episode features discussions from the 3rd International Workshop on Myelodysplastic Syndromes & Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (iwMDS & iwMPN) 2025, held in Lisbon, Portugal. First, you will hear from Uma Borate, MD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, Luca Lanino, MD, PhD, Yale University, New Haven, CT, Robert Hasserjian, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Zoey Xie, MD, MS, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, who share updates in the classification and risk stratification of MDS. Hetty Carraway, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, and Amy DeZern, MD, MHS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, then go on to discuss novel pathways and therapeutic agents being explored, including telomerase inhibition, the SELECT-MDS-1 study (NCT04797780), and more.

This episode of the VJHemOnc Podcast spotlights advances in the understanding and treatment of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM), featuring Karan Chohan, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Steven Treon, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, Anna Maria Frustaci, MD, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy, Neil Berinstein, MD, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada, Chan Cheah, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, DMSc, Linear Clinical Research and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia, and Dima El-Sharkawi, MB, BS, MA, PhD, MRCP, FRCPath, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. The experts focus on the impact of MYD88 and TP53 alterations, current treatment approaches including the use of BTK inhibitors (BTKis), and strategies for patients who discontinue BTKis. They then go on to discuss clinical trial advances, including the BRAWM trial (NCT04624906) and BTK degraders.

This podcast focuses on FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia (FLT3-ITD+ AML), featuring experts Amir Fathi, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, Musa Yilmaz, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Mark Levis, MD, PhD, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, and Harry Erba, MD, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC. The episode covers the standard of care for frontline treatment, key trial updates including an analysis of the Quantum-First trial (NCT02668653), and the use of measurable residual disease (MRD) using FLT3-ITD as a marker.

In this episode of the VJHemOnc Podcast, we dive into one of the more aggressive and challenging manifestations of multiple myeloma, extramedullary disease (EMD). We are joined by experts Meral Beksac, MD, Istinye University Ankara Liv Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Mehmet Samur, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, Saurabh Zanwar, MD, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Shaji Kumar, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. They discuss the latest insights on how EMD presents, how it’s managed, and what we’re learning about its complex biology. Plus, we’ll explore emerging treatment strategies and clinical trials, including the RedirecTT-1 trial (NCT04586426).

In this week’s VJHemOnc podcast, we’ll be sharing highlights in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) from the recent 3rd International Workshop on Myelodysplastic Syndromes & Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (iwMDS & iwMPN) 2025. First, you will hear a roundtable discussion, in which Prithviraj Bose, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Donal McLornan, MB, BCh, MRCP, PhD, FRCPath, University College London Hospitals, London, UK, and Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali, MD, Krukenberg Cancer Center, Halle, Germany, provide insight into novel approaches for the upfront management of myelofibrosis. The experts discuss the need to define a suboptimal response to therapy and outline some of the agents being investigated for myelofibrosis in the frontline setting. Following this, Alexander Lyon, MA, BM, BCh, PhD, FRCP, FHFA, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK, discusses cardiovascular health in patients with MPNs, and Adrián Mosquera Orgueira, MD, PhD, Santiago Clinic Hospital CHUS, Santiago, Spain, provides insight into the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the MDS/MPN setting.

In this episode of the VJHemOnc podcast, we are joined by experts Kathryn Tringale, MD, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, CA, and Nikita Dave, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, who share their perspectives on the management of patients with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma from the 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML 2025). The discussion covers both primary and secondary CNS lymphoma, providing practical recommendations and guidelines for oncologists, as well as highlighting emerging therapies currently under investigation.

VJHemOnc recently attended the 3rd International Workshop on Myelodysplastic Syndromes & Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (iwMDS & iwMPN) 2025, held in Lisbon, Portugal. This episode features experts Amer Zeidan, MBBS, MHS, Yale University and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, Elizabeth Griffiths, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, Lisa Pleyer, MD, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria, Andrew Brunner, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Yasushi Miyazaki, MD, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. They begin by summarizing the key themes from their presentations, which cover a wide range of hot topics, including the role of allotransplant in Japan, communicating about drug efficacy in clinical trials, validating response criteria, and optimizing the use of hypomethylating agents. They then have an insightful discussion on how we can enhance clinical trial design and ultimately improve outcomes for patients with MDS.

Today’s episode of the VJHemOnc podcast focuses on the targeting of mutant calreticulin (mutCALR) in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) – a trending topic in the field! You will hear leading experts Lucia Masarova, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, MD, PhD, Saint-Louis Hospital & Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, discuss what makes mutCALR an attractive therapeutic target in MPNs. Following this, John Mascarenhas, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, and Claire Harrison, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, outline the early results of the clinical trial investigating a mutant CALR-targeted antibody, INCA33989, which were presented as a late breaking abstract at the recent 30th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA). Additionally, Prof. Harrison comments on other targeted therapies being evaluated in MPNs. Finally, Alex Rampotas, MBBS, MRCP, University College London, London, UK, and Zoë Wong, BSc, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, provide insight into the development and evaluation of a novel CAR T-cell therapy targeting mutCALR in myelofibrosis (MF).

This episode of the VJHemOnc podcast focuses on the treatment of elderly or unfit patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Featuring experts Farhad Ravandi, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Gail Roboz, MD, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, Marina Konopleva, MD, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, Joshua Zeidner, MD, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, Nelli Bejanyan, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, Parastoo Dahi, MD, MS, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York City, NY, and Andrius Žučenka, MD, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, Lithuania. They discuss the current standard of care in the frontline setting, considerations for transplant eligibility, and future approaches being explored, such as triplet combinations including targeted agents.

VJHemOnc recently attended the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, where we gained insights into the latest advancements in hematologic oncology. In this episode, leading experts Claudio Cerchione, MD, PhD, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy, Andrew Kuykendall, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, Manali Kamdar, MD, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, CO, Constantine Tam, MBBS (Hons), MD, FRACP, FRCPA, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and Naveen Pemmaraju, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, share key updates across multiple disease areas. Topics include recent developments in multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).

In this episode of the VJHemOnc podcast, we explore clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and clonal cytopenia of unknown significance (CCUS) - conditions increasingly recognized as early indicators of myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. Joining the discussion are leading experts George Vassiliou, MBBS, PhD, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Sanam Loghavi, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Mrinal Patnaik, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Susan Slager, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, and Anton Langerak, PhD, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Together, they delve into recent advances in our understanding of CHIP and CCUS, touch on monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis as another precursor condition, and share their insights on the potential value of early intervention in these pre-malignant states.

In this episode of the VJHemOnc podcast, we are joined by Morie Gertz, MD, MACP, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, a leading expert in the field, to discuss the complexities surrounding the diagnosis of amyloidosis, including both the light chain and ATTR subtypes. The conversation covers early clinical signs that clinicians often overlook, key differences in presentation between subtypes, recommendations for initial diagnostic work-up, and the barriers that often delay timely diagnosis.

VJHemOnc was the official media partner for the recent 2nd International PNH Interest Group (IPIG) Conference held in Paris, France. In today’s podcast episode, you will hear some highlights from the event from leading experts in the field of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). First, Jens Panse, MD, Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany, Richard Kelly, MBChB, PhD, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, UK, and Benjamin Chin-Yee, MD, MA, FRCPC, Western University, London, Canada, provide insight into challenging situations in the current era of PNH treatment, including switching from anti-C5 to proximal complement inhibition, discontinuing anticoagulation, and the management of pregnant patients with PNH. Following this, Austin Kulasekararaj, MBBS, MD, MRCP, FRCPath, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, discusses the role of ravulizumab in this disease, and Dr Kelly and Catherine Flynn, MD, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, outline findings from the COMMODORE 1 and 2 trials. Finally, Jeff Szer, MBBS, FRACP, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, comments on the clinical problem of thrombosis in patients with PNH, highlighting how this complication can be prevented.

In this episode of the VJHemOnc podcast, join us for an insightful conversation with Dr Graham Collins, MA, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, DPhil, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK. Dr Collins discusses the significant shifts in treatment approaches for patients with advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma over the past decade. He also explores the excitement around newer regimens, including nivolumab-AVD, BV-AVD, and more. To conclude, Dr Collins shares his approach to treating patients with relapsed disease, drawing focus on the role of autologous stem cell transplantation. 

In this episode of the VJHemOnc podcast you will hear from Akshay Sharma, MBBS, MSc, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, who takes a deep dive into gene therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). Dr Sharma begins by discussing the status of gene therapy in SCD, outlining considerations for clinicians when selecting patients for these therapies, and commenting on the risk of infection. He then touches on the role of palliative care in patients with SCD undergoing gene therapy or transplantation, and provides his view on the benefits and challenges of gene therapy in this non-malignant hematological disorder. Finally, you will hear Dr Sharma's valuable insight into the risk of leukemia after lentiviral gene therapy.

Today's VJHemOnc podcast features discussions from the 7th International Workshop on CAR-T and bispecifics (iwCAR-T) 2025, which was held recently in Miami, FL. First you will hear from Elizabeth Budde, MD, PhD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, Mohammad Rashidian, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, Michael Jain, MD, PhD, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, and Marco Ruella, MD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, who explore outcomes of treatment with CAR T-cells and potential strategies to enhance their efficacy and minimize toxicities. Michael Hudecek, MD, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany, then provides insight into his keynote talk on accelerating CAR T-cell therapeutics with small molecules and CRISPR 2.0 gene editing. This is followed by Krish Patel, MD, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, Tara Graff, DO, MS, Mission Cancer and Blood, Des Moines, IA, and Caron Jacobson, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, who share their perspectives on how to improve access and delivery of T-cell engaging therapies in the community.

This episode features leading experts Paolo Ghia, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy, and Arnon Kater, MD, PhD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, who provide key insights into the management of relapsed/refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), guided by the latest ESMO clinical practice recommendations. They explore treatment strategies at first relapse and for double-refractory patients, including fixed-duration combinations and the emerging role of the non-covalent BTK inhibitor, pirtobrutinib. Additionally, the experts share their perspectives on the role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and CAR T-cell therapy, and offer a glimpse into promising therapies on the horizon, such as BTK degraders and bispecific antibodies.

VJHemOnc was delighted to be media partners for the 18th International Workshop on Multiple Myeloma (iwMyeloma), held in Miami, FL. This podcast episode features highlights from the meeting. First, you will hear from Rafael Fonseca, MD, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, Ola Landgren, MD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, Thomas Martin, MD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, and Adriana Rossi, MD, Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, who share updates with the use of several agents in multiple myeloma. Damian Green, MD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, and Rachid Baz, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, will then discuss practical considerations when using T-cell therapies, including managing adverse events and improving access.

In this VJHemOnc podcast, experts Barbara Eichhorst, MD, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany, Lydia Scarfò, MD, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, and Anna Schuh, MD, PhD, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, provide insights into the latest updates to the ESMO clinical practice guidelines for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). They cover key topics such as diagnostic advancements, frontline treatment strategies based on IGHV mutational status, the role of double oral combinations, the importance of measurable residual disease (MRD)-guided treatment, and the debate between time-limited and continuous regimens.

In this week’s VJHemOnc podcast, we’ll be sharing highlights from the 51st Annual Meeting of the EBMT, with a focus on the prevention and management of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and infections associated with stem cell transplantation (SCT). You will also hear about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in hematology and transplantation. Tune in as experts Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, and Arnon Nagler, MD, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel, provide insights into current treatment approaches for acute and chronic GvHD, discussing the advent of new therapies. Following this, you’ll hear about cytomegalovirus (CMV) management from Per Ljungman, MD, PhD, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) diagnosis from Eleftheria Kampouri, MD, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Raffaella Greco, MD, PhD, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. Finally, Manuela Spadea, MD, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, comments on ushering in the era of the hematologist-AI alliance, and Adrián Mosquera-Orgueira, MD, PhD, Santiago Clinic Hospital CHUS, Santiago, Spain, highlights the potential for harnessing machine learning to predict post-SCT outcomes in patients with myelofibrosis (MF).

This podcast episode features experts Paolo Strati, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Gloria Iacoboni, MD, PhD, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain, and Manali Kamdar, MD, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, CO, who discuss the sequencing of therapies in relapsed/refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). They focus on the sequencing of CAR T-cells and bispecific antibodies in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the use of BTK inhibitors (BTKis) in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and advances in the treatment of follicular lymphoma.

CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized the lymphoma treatment landscape in recent years. In this episode, we delve into cutting-edge CAR strategies being investigated for lymphoma, including allogeneic products, trispecific CARs, and more. Key highlights include insights into CTX112, a next-generation allogeneic CRISPR-Cas9 engineered CD19 CAR T-cell product. This episode also covers studies of trispecific CAR T-cells targeting CD19, CD20, and CD22.  Stay tuned to learn more about these promising approaches from experts Chan Cheah, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, DMSc, Linear Clinical Research and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia, Armin Ghobadi, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, Evandro Bezerra, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, Nirav Shah, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, Manali Kamdar, MD, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, CO, and Valentín Ortiz-Maldonado, MD, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is traditionally treated with intensive chemotherapy for eligible patients, but ongoing research is exploring the addition of targeted agents. This podcast focuses on approaches being explored to optimize induction therapy in AML, featuring experts Tapan Kadia, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Curtis Lachowiez, MD, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, Ioannis Mantzaris, MD, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City, NY, Selina Luger, MD, FRCPC, University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, Harry Erba, MD, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC, Fabio Guolo, MD, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, and David Sallman, MD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL. The experts discuss key trials in this space, including venetoclax combined with intensive induction chemotherapy, a Phase II study comparing midostaurin with gilteritinib in FLT3-mutated AML (NCT03836209), and the combination of ziftomenib with intensive chemotherapy. They also examine the role of CPX-351 in induction therapy and its potential combination with gemtuzumab ozogamicin.

BTK inhibitors have transformed the treatment landscape in both frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), offering a targeted therapy option for patients. In this podcast, you will hear from Krish Patel, MD, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute, Nashville, TN, Yucai Wang, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Julie Vose, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, Adrian Minson, MBBS, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, and David Lewis, MD, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK. The experts cover a variety of topics, exploring the role of BTK inhibitors in R/R MCL, promising combinations being explored, and strategies to overcome resistance.

In recognition of Myeloma Awareness Month 2025, this podcast explores key unmet needs and unanswered questions in myeloma research and patient care, offering insights and strategies for healthcare professionals to address them. The discussion centers on four topics: the treatment of smoldering myeloma, managing frail and elderly patients, challenges in triple-class refractory disease, and racial disparities in myeloma care. Featuring experts Karthik Ramasamy, MBBS, MRCP, FRCPath, PhD, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK, Tarek Mouhieddine, MD, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City, NY, Mateo Mejia Saldarriaga, MD, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, Joseph Mikhael, MD, MeD, FRCPC, FACP, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ, & International Myeloma Foundation, Studio City, CA, Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center & University of Miami, Miami, FL, P. Joy Ho, MBBS, DPhil, FRACP, FRCPA, FFSc(RCPA), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital & University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Enrique Ocio, MD, PhD, Marquis of Valdecilla University Hospital, Santander, Spain, and Joselle Cook, MBBS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.