Haematological Malignancies

Dr. Mandy Lauw, outgoing Chair of the YoungEHA Committee, discusses how YoungEHA supports young hematology professionals and offers tips on maximizing the EHA Congress for career development. Topics covered include the main aim and mission of YoungEHA, YoungEHA's contributions to this year’s EHA Congress and throughout the year, how young professionals can get the most out of the EHA Congress and its available activities and resources, making the most of virtual attendance, the main aims of the YoungEHA committee for the coming year and Dr. Lauw's hopes for the committee's future.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking approach in the treatment of relapsed or refractory haematological cancers, fundamentally altering the landscape of cancer care. By harnessing the body’s immune system, this therapy effectively targets and destroys cancer cells, demonstrating remarkable efficacy particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. At the forefront of advancements discussed during EBMT 2024, Dr. Sridhar Chaganti highlighted pioneering strategies, including the development of allogeneic CAR T-cell therapies. These therapies not only exhibit potential in reducing Graft-versus-Host disease but also show promise in improving cell expansion, marking significant progress in overcoming treatment limitations. Moreover, innovative approaches aim to address associated side effects such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Among these, the introduction of the JAK1 inhibitor, itacitinib, stands out as a promising avenue for mitigating adverse reactions and enhancing patient outcomes in the realm of CAR T-cell therapy