DUKE PERSPECTIVES
ASH Conference Coverage
December 9 to 12, 2017

Duke attended the American Society of Hematology's 59th Annual Meeting & Exposition held December 9 to 12 in Atlanta, GA. Read what you may have missed in our daily recaps.

Novel Mechanism for Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Suggests New Treatment Paths
December 10, 2017
By uncovering a central mechanism in chronic graft-versus-host disease, researchers have identified a potential new treatment target for this common and severe complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. [Read more] 

Researchers Track Leukemia Cells Across the Blood-Brain Barrier
December 10, 2017
For the first time, researchers have followed the path of ALL cells crossing the blood-brain barrier and invading the CNS. This discovery opens the door to new approaches for preventing CNS involvement in patients with ALL. [Read more]

Study Highlights Genetic Diversity and a Potential New Treatment Target in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
December 10, 2017
In a new study classifying the genetic diversity of DLBCL, researchers have identified a potentially important new treatment target for the most common form of lymphoma. [Read more]

Updated Prognostic Tools Needed in the Era of Novel Therapies for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
December 11, 2017
Results of a recent study suggest that patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia would benefit from an updated risk-stratification tool that predicts response to newer targeted therapies. [Read more] 

Misperceptions About Prognosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Highlight the Need for Better Patient-Physician Communication
December 11, 2017
A new study shows that older patients with acute myeloid leukemia tend to overestimate both the risks of treatment and their likelihood of cure, underscoring the need for better communication between patients and their oncologists. [Read more]

Transfusion Dependence May Hinder Quality End-of-Life Care in Medicare Beneficiaries With Leukemia
December 11, 2017
In older patients with leukemia, transfusion dependence appears to impede quality end-of-life care by delaying referral to hospice services. [Read more]

Next-Generation Autologous T-Cell Therapy Shows Promising Activity in Lymphoma
December 12, 2017
New findings from a phase 1 trial support the role of antibody-coupled T-cell receptor therapy, which may address the limitations of current chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies, including the risk of severe toxicities and primary tumor resistance. [Read more]

Microtransplantation Shows Promising Results in Older Patients With High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia
December 12, 2017
New research in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia validates the use of microtransplantation from HLA-identical family donors, which maintains the anti-leukemia benefits of traditional allogeneic HSCT while minimizing the risk of adverse events. [Read more]

Keeping Patients at Home for Stem Cell Transplantation May Reduce Transplant Risks
December 12, 2017
A new study shows that patients who stay in their own familiar home environments during HSCT maintain a healthier gut microbiome, experience a better quality of life, and have a lower risk of adverse transplant outcomes than patients who undergo traditional inpatient HSCT. [Read more]