

Blood Podcast
American Society of Hematology
The Blood Podcast summarizes content recently published in Blood, the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field of hematology.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2021 • 15min
Inhibition of P-selectin as an anticoagulant, prognostic implications of CEBPA mutations in AML, and treating sickle cell disease with voxelitor
In this week’s episode, we’ll review a study that demonstrates the efficacy of a synthetic inhibitor termed P-G6 that blocks P-selectin signaling and reduces thrombus formation in a pre-clinical model of non-occlusive venous thrombosis, learn more about how biallelic and single bZip CEBPA mutations have an equally favorable prognostic impact in acute myeloid leukemia, and examine the effects of modifying the pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia with therapeutic agents that increase oxygen affinity.

Sep 23, 2021 • 15min
Caution on JAK inhibitors in HLH, CD44 loss sensitizes AML to venetoclax, and new insights on cell cycle control in Richter transformation
In this week’s episode, we review results of preclinical investigations that sound a note of caution regarding the potential use of JAK inhibitors as treatment for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (or HLH), research that provides new insights on how CD44 loss of function sensitizes AML cells to the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, and conclude with a report that demonstrates cooperation between B cell receptor signaling and genetic lesions in CDKN2A, CDKN2B and TP53 in Richter transformation.

Sep 16, 2021 • 18min
Improved risk assessment in adult BCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL, value of clone metrics in clonal cytopenias, a placental protease generates a peptide to inhibit NET formation
In this week’s episode, we will review an integrated analysis of one of the largest adult BCR-ABL1-negative B-ALL patient cohorts treated in a single trial, learn more about the genotypic and phenotypic features of patients with clonal cytopenias, and look at a study showing that a serine protease expressed in the placenta cleaves α1-antitrypsin to generate a fragment that inhibits formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in neonates.

Sep 9, 2021 • 23min
Fixed-duration venetoclax in relapsed CLL, differing effects of invariant NK T cells, and under recognition of rare TERT variants in MDS
In this week’s episode, we’ll review updated results of a phase 1b study that provide strong support for the use of fixed-duration venetoclax in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL. Next, we’ll review a research paper that provides new insights on the different subtypes of invariant natural killer T cells, which appear to have diverse immunoregulatory properties and anti-tumor effects. We will finish up with a report indicating that rare variants in the telomerase gene, TERT, are underrecognized in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, providing a new insight into the germline genetic component of disease pathophysiology.

Sep 2, 2021 • 18min
Activated BCL11B in acute leukemias, SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in lymphoma patients receiving B-cell therapies, and PD-L1 in neutrophil apoptosis and tissue inflammation
In this week’s episode, we will review a study that shows that BCL11B is an important oncogene in acute leukemias with myeloid and T-lymphoid features, learn more about antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in lymphoma patients receiving B-cell directed therapies, and examine the role of programmed death ligand 1 (or PD-L1) and the PI 3 kinase-AKT survival pathway in delayed neutrophil apoptosis at sites of tissue inflammation.

Aug 26, 2021 • 28min
Review Series on Mechanisms of Hematologic Malignancies
To reach the goal of curing currently incurable hematologic malignancies, we need to go beyond focusing on single gene mutations and gain deeper understanding of the consequences of genetic alterations on gene-regulatory pathways. Edited by John Crispino, these 5 cutting-edge reviews from leaders in the their fields not only summarize our current understanding of key pathways that contribute to myeloid malignancies, but also discuss new therapeutic avenues related to them. They provide a springboard for further groundbreaking basic and clinical advances in hematologic malignancies.Review Series on Mechanisms of Hematologic Malignancies

Aug 26, 2021 • 18min
IFN-λ therapy for GvHD, mechanism of decitabine in ITP, and TET2 mutations in chronic NK-LGL leukemia
In this week's episode, we will review a study that proposes IFN-λ therapy as a novel strategy to boost gut protection in GvHD, examine the immunomodulatory effects of decitabine in ITP, and learn about the discovery of TET2 mutations in chronic natural killer large granular lymphocyte leukemia

Aug 19, 2021 • 18min
Choosing chemotherapy for older patients with AML, the role of the microenvironment in pediatric ALL, and efficacy of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in elderly patients with ITP
In this week's episode, we will review a report on a clinical prognostic tool that identifies which group of older, fit acute myeloid leukemia patients may derive survival benefit from intensive induction and consolidation chemotherapy, learn more about how pediatric acute myeloid leukemia cells connect with mesenchymal stromal cells and the potential to exploit these cell-cell contacts in AML treatments, and examine the effects of eltrombopag and romiplostim in elderly patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Aug 12, 2021 • 16min
Brentuximab plus nivolumab in refractory/relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma, the signature of aging hematopoietic stem cells, and hepatocyte neogenin in iron homeostasis
In this week's episode, we’ll discuss the safety and efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in combination with nivolumab in patients with relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma, learn more about the aging signature of murine hematopoietic stem cells, and discuss the role of hepatocyte neogenin in iron homeostasis.

Aug 5, 2021 • 19min
Latest Research on the Intensity of AML Therapy in Older Patients, Platelets and T cell Activity in Sepsis, and Genotyping for CNS Lymphoma
In this week's episode, we’ll start by reviewing an intriguing study that, while not randomized, calls into question whether less-intensive induction therapies provide a survival or quality of life benefit in older patients with AML. Next, we will review the somewhat surprising findings from human and mouse model studies demonstrating that platelets downregulate T cell activity during sepsis, a finding that is associated with reduced survival. We will close with a report on a targeted genotyping approach that could reduce diagnostic and treatment delays in patients with primary CNS lymphoma.


