Latest Research

Association between treatment-emergent cytopenias and clinical responses to imetelstat in lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Zeidan AM, et al

This study investigated whether treatment-emergent cytopenias — temporary drops in blood cell counts caused by therapy — are associated with better clinical outcomes in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receiving imetelstat, a first-in-class telomerase inhibitor. Researchers analyzed data from clinical trial participants to determine if the occurrence of these on-treatment blood count reductions could serve as a predictive marker of response to imetelstat. The findings suggest that patients who developed treatment-emergent cytopenias were more likely to achieve meaningful clinical responses, including red blood cell transfusion independence, indicating a potential on-target biological effect of the drug. This association is clinically significant because it may help physicians identify patients who are responding to imetelstat and guide treatment decisions in a disease where therapeutic options remain limited. For patients with lower-risk MDS who are dependent on transfusions and have few effective treatments, these insights could improve personalized management strategies.

Blood cancer journal

Venetoclax-Based Regimens in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abdulgayoom M, et al

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Acta Haematologica examined the effectiveness and safety of venetoclax-based treatment regimens in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), a rare and difficult-to-treat blood cancer. Researchers analyzed data from 17 publications covering nine unique studies and 145 CMML patients who received venetoclax, most often combined with hypomethylating agents such as azacitidine or decitabine. The analysis found an encouraging overall response rate of nearly 72%, but complete remission was achieved in only about 19% of patients, and responses tended to be short-lived. Treatment was associated with significant side effects, particularly severe reductions in white blood cells and platelets, as well as infectious complications, though early deaths were uncommon. These findings confirm that venetoclax combinations offer meaningful but limited benefit in CMML, highlighting the urgent need for dedicated prospective clinical trials to identify which patients are most likely to benefit and to establish optimal dosing strategies.

Acta haematologica

Cost effectiveness analysis of PEG-rhG-CSF versus rhG-CSF for primary prophylaxis of chemotherapy induced neutropenia in Chinese patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma using real world data.

Zhu Y, et al

A new study published in Discover Oncology evaluated the cost-effectiveness of two types of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors — pegylated (PEG-rhG-CSF) and non-pegylated (rhG-CSF) — used to prevent severe drops in white blood cell counts (neutropenia) triggered by chemotherapy in Chinese patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Using real-world clinical data from China, researchers compared the economic and clinical outcomes of both agents when administered as primary prophylaxis, meaning before neutropenia occurs rather than in response to it. The analysis found that PEG-rhG-CSF, despite its higher upfront cost, offered a more convenient once-per-cycle dosing schedule and demonstrated a favorable cost-effectiveness profile compared to the daily injections required with rhG-CSF. These findings are particularly relevant for healthcare providers and policymakers in China, where non-Hodgkin lymphoma is among the most common blood cancers and the economic burden of supportive care is a critical consideration. The study supports the broader adoption of PEG-rhG-CSF as a primary prophylactic option, potentially reducing hospitalizations and improving patient quality of life during chemotherapy.

Discover oncology

Expression of Concern: Trends and disparities in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma related mortality in the United States, 1999-2020.

This publication is an Expression of Concern issued by the journal PLOS ONE regarding a previously published study that examined trends and disparities in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)-related mortality in the United States between 1999 and 2020. An Expression of Concern is a formal notice from a journal indicating that questions have been raised about the integrity or reliability of the original research, though a final determination may not yet have been made. The original study had investigated how death rates from NHL changed over time across different population groups, potentially highlighting inequalities in outcomes based on factors such as age, sex, race, or geography. Clinicians and researchers should treat the findings of the flagged article with caution until the journal completes its investigation and issues a definitive editorial decision. This notice underscores the importance of rigorous peer review and post-publication scrutiny in maintaining the quality of the scientific record in oncology research.

PloS one

Attributable Fraction of Epstein-Barr Virus in Subtypes of Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Global Meta-Analysis.

Hirabayashi M, et al

A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Cancer has comprehensively mapped the contribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) — a known cancer-causing virus — to different subtypes of lymphoma worldwide, drawing on 307 studies and more than 21,140 patient cases from 1990 to 2024. The researchers found that EBV prevalence varied dramatically across lymphoma subtypes: it was present in over 92% of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas and roughly half of Hodgkin lymphomas, but in only about 11% of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in HIV-negative individuals. People living with HIV (PLHIV) showed substantially higher rates of EBV-positive lymphomas across multiple subtypes, with EBV detected in over 43% of their diffuse large B-cell lymphomas compared to about 11% in HIV-negative patients. Burkitt lymphoma was notable for strong regional variation, with near-universal EBV positivity found in East Africa. These findings provide the first comprehensive global estimate of EBV's role in lymphoma and have important implications for public health strategies, including the development of EBV vaccines, improved early diagnosis, and the design of targeted therapies for at-risk populations.

International journal of cancer