REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 748
MARTIN MÜLLER, University of Heidelberg, Manheim
COMMENT: CHARLES LINKER, University of California, San Francisco
In chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia-positive acute lymphocytic leukemia, the new multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib has proven effective in patients developing BCR-ABL mutations that have caused resistance to the first line agent imatinib. Martin Müller gave Peter Goodwin the latest data on dasatinib and his views about the possible clinical use of this new agent.

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 749
ANDREAS HOCHHAUS, University of Heidelberg, Manheim
COMMENT: CHARLES LINKER, University of California, San Francisco
The tyrosine kinase inhibitor nilotinib has proven capable of controlling chronic myeloid leukemia in patients for whom imatinib has failed because of the emergence of BCR-ABL mutations. Andreas Hochhaus discussed the achievements and the limitations of this new therapy with Peter Goodwin during the ASH meeting in Orlando.

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 482
CHRISTIAN BUSKE, University Hospital, Munich
COMMENT: CHARLES LINKER, University of California, San Francisco
A phase III randomized trial from the German Low Grade Lymphoma group has shown rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP) to be significantly better than CHOP alone in older patients with advanced stage follicular lymphoma. R-CHOP gave higher response rates, longer times to treatment failure, and longer overall survival with no additional side effects as compared to CHOP alone. Sarah Maxwell spoke to Christian Buske at the American Society of Hematology meeting in Orlando.

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 753
KATARINA LE BLANC, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
COMMENT: STEPHEN EMERSON, University of Pennsylvania
A new way of treating graft-versus-host-disease could be therapy with mesenchymal stem cells from HLA matched or unmatched donors. Steroid refractory patients with hematologic malignancies experiencing severe graft-versus-host disease received allogeneic transplants in a study reported in Orlando. Many had complete responses to therapy. Sarah Maxwelll asked Katarina Le Blanc about these findings.

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 5
ALESSANDRO VANNUCCHI, University of Florence
COMMENT: KANTI RAI, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New York
A new study of patients with polycythemia vera has discovered that prognosis and, consequently, therapy recommendations are predicted by the proportion of JAK2 genes which are mutated. Alessandro Vannucchi from Florence University told Peter Goodwin about his findings at the ASH conference in Florida, and suggested that therapy may be guided by reference to JAK2 mutation levels.

REFERENCE: American Society of Hematology 2006 Orlando: Abstract: 4
RICHARD SCHLENK, University of Ulm, Germany
COMMENT: KANTI RAI, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New York
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia may do better or worse depending on whether they have specific molecular markers. New findings on this were discussed at the ASH meeting in Orlando in a presentation from Ulm. After his talk Richard Schlenk told Sarah Maxwell about their findings and the clinical hopes they raised for improving therapy.

REFERENCE: Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXIV 8-11 November 2006
CLIFFORD HUDIS, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
COMMENT: EDWARD AMBINDER, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
Clifford Hudis of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York presented data to support the idea that HER2 is still a useful target after progression on trastuzumab. One of the drugs he focused on was 17AAG, an Hsp90 inhibitor.

REFERENCE: Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXIV 8-11 November 2006
MARK EINSTEIN, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York

Could vaccination have a therapeutic role in the treatment of cervical cancer? Mark Einstein, from the Montefiore Medical Center in New York, presented data on a vaccination for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

REFERENCE: Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXIV 8-11 November 2006
Tony GRECO, Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Nashville
Tony Greco of the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville explained some new drugs for treating lung cancer. One is a new alkylating agent, while the other is albumin-bound paclitaxel.

REFERENCE: Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXIV 8-11 November 2006
JAMES BERENSON, Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research, California
COMMENT: EDWARD AMBINDER, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
A study presented by James Berenson, of the Institute of Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research in California, suggests that arsenic trioxide is another useful option in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.