Topic Review
Anti-CD20 Antibodies in the Management of B-Cell Lymphomas
Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have revolutionized the treatment of lymphomas by improving the survival of patients, particularly in conjunction with chemotherapy. Efforts to improve the on-targeting CD20 expressed on lymphomas through novel bioengineering techniques have led to the development of newer anti-CD20 mAbs that have accentuated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cell medicated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and/or a direct killing effect.
  • 81
  • 16 Jan 2024
Topic Review
p38 as Molecular Target in Multiple Myeloma Therapy
Resistance to therapy and disease progression are the main causes of mortality in most cancers. In particular, the development of resistance is an important limitation affecting the efficacy of therapeutic alternatives for cancer, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Signaling pathways are largely responsible for the mechanisms of resistance to cancer treatment and progression, and multiple myeloma is no exception. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) is downstream of several signaling pathways specific to treatment resistance and progression.
  • 63
  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Venetoclax in the Treatment of Younger AML Patients
The combination approach based on venetoclax (VEN) with azacytidine (AZA) has significantly improved outcomes for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This innovative approach has led to higher rates of overall response, measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative remissions, and overall survival compared with AZA monotherapy. As a result, this combination has emerged as the gold-standard treatment for elderly or unfit patients with AML who are not eligible for intensive therapy. In younger, fit patients with AML, intensive induction and consolidation chemotherapy is commonly used as a first-line approach; however, relapse continues to be the main reason for treatment failure in approximately 30–40% of patients. Efforts to improve MRD-negative response rates and to facilitate the transition to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, particularly in high-risk AML, have inspired trials exploring the combination of intensive chemotherapy with targeted agents. VEN, a first-in-class anti-BCL2 agent, combined with intensive chemotherapy regimens has shown deep MRD-negative remissions, producing prolonged event-free survival and enhancing the transition to allogeneic transplant in first-complete-remission patients. These benefits support the incremental advantages of adding VEN to intensive chemotherapy approaches across ELN risk subcategories, and provides a robust benchmark to design future trials.
  • 92
  • 09 Jan 2024
Topic Review
New Settings of CAR-T Cell Therapy for Lymphoma
Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has led to a treatment paradigm shift for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas, first with the approval for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphomas and subsequently for R/R mantle cell and follicular lymphoma. Many efforts are continuously being made to extend the therapeutic setting in the lymphoma field. Several reports are supporting the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cells in patients with central nervous system disease involvement. Anti-CD30 CAR-T cells for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma are in development and early studies looking for the optimal target for T-cell malignancies are ongoing. Anti-CD19/CD20 and CD19/CD22 dual targeting CAR-T cells are under investigation in order to increase anti-lymphoma activity and overcome tumor immune escape. Allogeneic CAR product engineering is on the way, representing a rapidly accessible ‘off-the-shelf’ and potentially more fit product. 
  • 102
  • 08 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Myeloproliferative Related Dermatosis with Indolent Clinical Outcomes
Myeloid neoplasms and acute leukemias include different entities that have been recently re-classified taking into account molecular and clinicopathological features. Two major articles were published in 2022, the ICC and the WHO classifications. The myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) category comprises a heterogeneous group of hybrid neoplastic myeloid diseases characterized by the co-occurrence of clinical and pathological features of both myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative neoplasms. The most frequent entity in this category is chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) which is, after acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the main myeloid disorder prone to develop cutaneous manifestations.
  • 98
  • 04 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Pediatric Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is an aggressive T-cell lymphoma characterized by large T-cells with strong CD30 and ALK expression. Although conventional chemotherapy is effective in most patients, approximately 30% experience a relapse or refractory disease and have a poor prognosis. Several risk factors associated with poor prognosis have been identified in pediatric ALK-positive ALCL. These include morphological patterns with the small cell variant or lymphohistiocytic variant, leukemic presentation, the presence of minimal disseminated disease, or involvement of the central nervous system. Relapsed or refractory ALK-positive ALCL is often resistant to conventional chemotherapy; therefore, salvage therapy is required. In recent years, targeted therapies such as ALK inhibitors and brentuximab vedotin (BV) have been developed. ALK inhibitors block the continuous activation of ALK kinase, a driver mutation that leads to cell proliferation in ALK-positive ALCL. Additionally, BV is an antibody–drug conjugate that targets CD30-positive cells. Both ALK inhibitors and BV have displayed dramatic effects in chemoresistant ALK-positive ALCL. Weekly vinblastine treatment and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have also been reported to be effective therapies. 
  • 125
  • 29 Dec 2023
Topic Review
CAR-T Cell Therapy in Pediatric Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system, especially from progenitor or mature B-cells, T-cells, or natural killer (NK) cells. NHL is the most common hematological malignancy worldwide and also the fourth most frequent type of cancer among pediatric patients. This cancer can occur in children of any age, but it is quite rare under the age of 5 years. In recent decades, available medicines and therapies have significantly improved the prognosis of patients with this cancer. However, some cases of NHL are treatment resistant. For this reason, immunotherapy, as a more targeted and personalized treatment strategy, is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of NHL in pediatric patients.
  • 88
  • 19 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Philadelphia-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Resource-Constrained Settings
Remarkable strides have been performed in the treatment of adults diagnosed with Philadelphia-positive lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) through the integration of newer-generation tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that most medical centers worldwide lack access to these therapies. As a result, primary strategies employed for curing this disease continue to rely on a combination of chemotherapy and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. 
  • 83
  • 18 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Novel Monoclonal Antibodies in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment
NMABs represent a heterogeneous group of agents, including naked antibodies, immunotoxins, and T-cell-engaging molecules. Several NMABs have either gained regulatory approval or are on the verge of introduction into clinical practice, addressing multiple therapeutic indications and treatment regimens. Their anticipated impact is expected to be broad, initially in the context of relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease and subsequently extending to early treatment lines.
  • 280
  • 15 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Extracellular Matrix Metabolism
Chronic inflammation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is characterized by persistent connective tissue remodeling, which leads to organ dysfunction and ultimately, organ failure, due to excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). The connective tissue responds uniformly to injuries of any kind by distinctive sequential changes in the ECM expression, including oedema formation, angiogenesis and finally, fibrosis, with the deposition of type III collagen in the early phase, mainly as fine fibers, and type I collagen as coarse fibers in the later phase of the lesion). This injury–repair process is qualitatively similar in all organs and is accompanied by the release of various matrix components into the circulation during the synthesis and breakdown of connective tissue constituents at the site of injury.
  • 197
  • 11 Dec 2023
  • Page
  • of
  • 26