Blood Podcast

In this week’s episode, we will review a study that uncovers a role for CLCX4 in inducing the two hallmark features of primary myelofibrosis, bone marrow fibrosis and inflammation. We will next examine how genetic predisposition and altered gut microbiome can trigger the development of Precursor B-ALL in mice, and finally, learn how SARS-CoV2 spike proteins activate complement by engaging the alternative pathway, a novel finding which raises the prospect for targeted therapy of COVID-19-associated micro-angiopathy.

In this week’s episode, we will learn more about the immune defects and granule dysfunction in the leukocytes of patients with the rare recessive platelet disorder, gray platelet syndrome, review a study that examines the cost effectiveness of first-line versus third-line ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and review a manuscript that proposes a diagnostic classifier to facilitate the diagnosis of childhood autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome.

In this week’s episode, we will review a study that utilized whole-genome sequencing to define the mutational spectrum and clonal architecture of myelodysplastic/ myeloproliferative neoplasms, learn more about the association between plasma levels of growth differentiation factor 15 and the risk of venous thromboembolism, and examine the role of microenvironment myeloid cells in supporting the growth of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In this week’s episode, we will learn about two molecular brakes that regulate platelet activation and production, review a study showing that giving BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for Philadelphia-positive ALL prevents relapse, and lastly, see how investigators deciphered the role of a micro-RNA that increases platelet formation by reducing the expression of the actin-bundling protein, L-plastin, in megakaryocytes.

David Steensma, a physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, dives deep into the nuances of clonal hematopoiesis. He discusses how genetic mutations in stem cells can drive clonal dominance and the clinical implications for patient care. Key insights include the establishment of specialized clinics to manage these conditions and the importance of advanced sequencing technologies in cancer prevention. The conversation highlights how understanding these mechanisms can improve outcomes and foster better communication with patients.

In this week’s episode, we will learn more about the pre-clinical and clinical development of optimized, bivalent, tandem CD20 and CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells for treatment of relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, examine a study that reveals the first stage in the clearance of senescent red blood cells by the spleen, and review a manuscript that describes the first transgenic mouse model fully reproducing specific renal lesions and kidney dysfunction observed in human light chain deposition disease.

In this week’s episode, we will learn more about the role of hepcidin in fetal iron homeostasis, review a new study with improved outcomes in HLA-antigen mismatched transplantation, and examine how two splicing factor mutations can coexist in the same cell in patients with myeloid malignancies.

In this week’s episode, we will examine the effects of protecting and regenerating Paneth cells and intestinal stem cells in acute-graft-versus-host-disease, learn more about how Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes develop in the bone marrow by invading erythroblasts, and look at a meta-analysis of direct oral anticoagulants for treating cancer patients with acute venous thromboembolism.

Rachel Grace, a pediatric hematologist at the Dana-Farber Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, discusses advancements in understanding and treating pyruvate kinase deficiency. Achille Iolascon, a professor of medical genetics, shares insights on congenital dyserythropoietic anemias. They delve into breakthroughs in pharmacological treatments, including gene therapy, and the complexities of diagnosing inherited anemias. The conversation highlights the importance of genetic research and its potential to improve patient care and treatment outcomes.

In this week’s episode, we start by reviewing two studies on the risks of transmitting HIV from transfusion. The first study asks whether changing the US blood donation policy for men who have sex with men from an indefinite deferral, to a deferral of 12 months from last sex, increases the risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. The second study examines the frequency of detecting anti-HIV retroviral drugs in the serum of people attempting to donate blood. We will also review a manuscript examining the impact of Myc in HIV-associated non-Hodgkin lymphomas treated with EPOCH chemotherapy with or without vorinostat. And lastly, we learn more about platelet hyperactivity in two recent studies of patients with COVID-19.