ATLANTA – There were a lot of new data presented during the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology. But what findings could actually change the way you practice?
Robert A. Brodsky, MD, director of the division of hematology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the moderator for the late-breaking abstract session at ASH, highlighted results from two studies.
Data from the MURANO trial showed robust results for a combination of venetoclax and rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). At a median follow-up of 23.8 months, median progression-free survival -had not been reached in patients randomized to venetoclax/rituximab, while patients who received bendamustine plus rituximab had a median PFS of 17 months.
The based on the data presented, Dr. Brodsky said.
Another “enormously exciting and practice-changing” finding is that direct oral anticoagulants can be used safely in patients with cancer, Dr. Brodsky said in an interview.
In a randomized, open-label study, 12 months of daily treatment with edoxaban was noninferior to standard subcutaneous therapy with dalteparin for treatment of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients.