SOHO 2021 | Chemotherapy-free regimens for ALL

Matthew Wieduwilt, MD, PhD, of the OU Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, discusses the use of chemotherapy-free regimens for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), including targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Dr Wieduwilt sheds light on promising data from the Phase II GIMEMA LAL2116 study (NCT02744768) of frontline sequential therapy with dasatinib and blinatumomab in Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL, which reported high complete remission rates. Additionally, Dr Wieduwilt explains how the TKI ponatinib can be used to overcome resistance arising from T315I mutations. Dr Wieduwilt also comments on the findings of the SWOG 1318 trial (NCT02143414) investigating blinatumomab and combination chemotherapy or dasatinib, prednisone and blinatumomab in older patients with ALL, and the potential benefits of treatment with inotuzumab ozogamicin which has demonstrated a high measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity rate. This interview took place during the ninth annual meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO 2021) congress.