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News and Treatment Updates

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Here's where you'll find a regularly updated, broad range of articles written by the AAMDSIF team, allied health organizations and news organizations. By staying well-informed, patients and families are practicing a form of self-support that will help them be more effective self-advocates when engaging with health care providers.

Real-World Validation of Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System for Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Originally Published: 03/17/2023
ABSTRACT PURPOSE Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous myeloid neoplasms in which a risk-adapted treatment strategy is needed. Recently, a new clinical-molecular prognostic model, the Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-M) was proposed to improve the prediction of clinical outcome of the currently available tool (Revised International Prognostic Scoring System [IPSS-R]). We aimed to provide an extensive validation of IPSS-M. METHODS A total of 2,876 patients with primary MDS from the GenoMed4All consortium were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS IPSS-M improved...

Blood test identifies acute myeloid leukemia patients at greater risk for relapse after bone marrow transplant

Originally Published: 03/07/2023
A small portion of adults in remission from a deadly blood cancer had persisting mutations detected, which predicted their risk of death from having the cancer return Researchers at the National Institutes of Health show the benefits of screening adult patients in remission from acute myeloid leukemiaexternal link (AML) for residual disease before receiving a bone marrow transplant. The findings, published in JAMAexternal link, support ongoing research aimed at developing precision medicine and personalized post-transplant care for these patients. About 20,000 adults in the United States are...

Effective treatment of low risk acute GVHD with itacitinib monotherapy

Originally Published: 09/12/2022
Key Points Itacitinib monotherapy is as effective as systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of low risk acute GVHD. Itacitinib monotherapy resulted in fewer serious infections compared to systemic corticosteroids. The standard primary treatment for acute graft vs host disease (GVHD) requires prolonged, high dose systemic corticosteroids (SCS) that delay reconstitution of the immune system. We used validated clinical and biomarker staging criteria to identify a group of patients with low risk (LR) GVHD that is very likely to respond to SCS. We hypothesized that itacitinib, a selective...

Press Release Gamida Cell Announces FDA Acceptance of Biologics License Application for Omidubicel with Priority Review

Originally Published: 08/01/2022
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2022-- Gamida Cell Ltd. (Nasdaq: GMDA), the leader in the development of NAM-enabled cell therapy candidates for patients with hematologic and solid cancers and other serious diseases, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing the Company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for omidubicel for the treatment of patients with blood cancers in need of an allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Omidubicel is a first-in-class, advanced NAM-enabled stem cell therapy candidate with breakthrough and orphan drug...

Patients With MPNs Must Be Honest About Their Symptoms, Says Expert

Originally Published: 06/20/2022
It is incredibly important that patients with MPNs inform their health care team of any symptoms they are experiencing, according to an expert from The Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center. Because patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) or polycythemia vera (PV) — rare types of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) — experience a range of symptoms that can significantly impact their quality of life, it’s important that patients communicate what they’re experiencing with their health care team. Symptoms may include fatigue, symptoms...

Gamida Cell Completes Rolling Biologics License Application Submission to the FDA for Omidubicel

Originally Published: 06/02/2022
June 2, 2022 - Omidubicel is a first-in-class, advanced NAM-enabled stem cell therapy candidate being evaluated as the first potential allogeneic advanced cell therapy donor source for patients with blood cancers in need of a transplant – - Omidubicel has Orphan Drug Designation and Breakthrough Therapy Designation - BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 2, 2022-- Gamida Cell Ltd. (Nasdaq: GMDA), the leader in the development of NAM-enabled cell therapy candidates for patients with hematologic and solid cancers and other serious diseases, today announced completion of the rolling Biologics License...

Servier Announces FDA Approval of TIBSOVO® (ivosidenib tablets) in Combination with Azacitidine for Patients with Newly Diagnosed IDH1-mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Originally Published: 05/25/2022
BOSTON, May 25, 2022  – Servier, a leader in oncology committed to bringing the promise of tomorrow to the patients we serve, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TIBSOVO® (ivosidenib tablets) in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults 75 years or older, or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy. TIBSOVO is the first therapy targeting cancer metabolism approved in combination with azacitidine for patients with newly diagnosed...

The Rise of the Expert Patient in Cancer: From Backseat Passenger to Co-navigator

Originally Published: 03/28/2022
PURPOSE: Patients who have cancer have leveraged the Internet to gain a better understanding of their disease and connect across geographic boundaries with others facing the same challenges. Online cancer communities have developed into resources that highlight new research and evolving care pathways. Combined with increasing health literacy and social media, they have enabled some patients to become experts in their cancer. This combination of empowerment and expertise describes the new “e-patients.” Article continues at link.

Living in an online world: Social media experiences of adolescents and young adults with cancer

Originally Published: 03/16/2022
Abstract Background Despite widespread use, little is known about how adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer use social media (SM). This research characterized use and self-reported SM experiences among AYA with cancer. Procedure AYA, aged 12-26 years, receiving cancer care completed a mixed-methods survey regarding SM experiences. Clinical information was obtained from the electronic medical record. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t tests, and qualitative content analysis. Results Thirty-nine AYA with average age 16 (SD = 3.2) years participated. Most were Caucasian...

Student view: Donor diversity saves lives

Originally Published: 03/16/2022
Editor's note:  Here's an update on Mychaela (see Stories of Hope) Mychaela Lovelace is a sophomore at Michigan State University majoring in kinesiology in the College of Education, and is a scholar and mentor in the Dow STEM Scholars Program. On April 1, 2008, at the age of 5 I was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, which is a rare condition that occurs when your body stops producing enough new blood cells. About two in every, 1 million people in the United States are diagnosed with the disease each year. After being diagnosed, I knew, even at the young age of 5, that I was going to...