UCSF Health Experts Spotlight Advances at Hematology Conference

Hematologists and oncologists from around the world will present new research and clinical findings at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) 66th Annual Meeting and Exposition. This year’s meeting will be held in San Diego Dec. 7-10. 

Widely considered the world’s leading event in malignant and non-malignant hematology, ASH has sponsored the annual meeting for more than 60 years. The scientific program features presentations and data updates, including diagnostic developments and other advances in hematology.

This year’s scientific program highlights new and late-breaking data, including diagnostic developments by experts in multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (HDFCCC). 

Here are some highlights (all times PST):

Sunday, Dec. 8, 9:30 – 11:05 a.m.

Scientific Program Joint Session: Therapeutic Gene Editing of Stem Cells in Classical and Malignant Hematology

Justin Eyquem, PhD, will present “New Gene Editing Technologies” and discuss his latest work using novel gene editing technologies to improve CAR T-cell function and facilitate their manufacturing. He will present new gene edits associated with improved CAR T-cell functional persistence and novel types of vectors for the generation of CAR T cell in vivo. The session will include presentations followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer period.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.

Scientific Spotlight Session: Inflammation as a Regulator of Hematopoietic Homeostasis in Disease and Clonal Selection

Serine Avagyan, MD, PhD, serves as co-chair and speaker for this scientific spotlight session. She will present “Inflammation As a Regulator of Hematopoietic Homeostasis in Clonal Selection.” She will discuss the role of inflammatory pathways in developmental origins of hematopoietic (blood) stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and in shaping postnatal blood cell production (hematopoiesis) in the context of aging and genetic blood disorders. This talk will highlight recent studies investigating how inflammation affects the fate of normal and mutant HSPCs, and the pathways by which inflammatory exposure affects the selection of mutant HSPC clones due to differential clonal fitness.   

Avagyan will also be a featured speaker during the scientific workshop on “Germline Predisposition to Hematopoietic Malignancies and Bone Marrow Failure” on Friday, Dec. 6 from 2:02 – 2:41 p.m. She is presenting “Effects of Somatic BCOR Mutations on Hematopoiesis” during this session on genetic (germline) mutations, hematopoietic malignancy cancer risk and molecular pathways important for hematopoiesis.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.

Scientific Symposia: Cellular Heterogeneity and Relationship to Clinical Outcomes

Julia Carnevale, MD, presents “Purposeful Heterogeneity of CAR T Cells” during a scientific symposium on CAR T cell therapies, biological therapies, and biological processes. Carnevale will discuss how as genetic screening tools have improved so that scientists are now able to simultaneously query the entire genome to rapidly pinpoint key genetic networks that govern human T cell behaviors. She will share studies using these kinds of screening tools to pressure test T cell therapies and identify loss- and gain-of-function gene targets that can be used to steer T cells into desired therapeutic behaviors. Specifically, she will cover lessons learned and steps being taken to successfully harness pooled screening approaches in T cells. She will also describe how these efforts might be translated to a clinical future where engineered pools of T cell products are created based on a variety of unique gene edits in specific T cells.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.

Ash Clinical Practice Guidelines on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in Adolescents and Young Adults

Lena Winestone, MD, presents “Management of Refractory and Relapse of ALL in Adolescents and Young Adults” during this special interest session previewing recommendations for the management of both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory ALL in adolescents and young adults.

Oral and Poster Abstract Sessions:

Saturday, Dec. 7, 5:15 p.m.

Oral Abstract Session: AI Predicts Early Relapse Post-Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients in a Multi-Center Real-World Study

While real-world evidence has demonstrated comparable safety and effectiveness of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in pivotal trials of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), nearly 60% of patients receiving axi-cel eventually experience relapse, with most requiring additional therapies. First author Michelle Wang, PharmD, PhD, presents this study that developed a clinically interpretable decision tree machine learning (ML) model to identify patients with risks of early relapse of their disease within six months after receiving axi-cel. The study also evaluated the real-world safety and effectiveness of axi-cel in a multi-center population across University of California Health System. Abstract 390

Saturday, Dec. 7, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Poster Session: Benefits of Targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for Identification of Newborn Hemoglobinopathies: The California Experience

The rapid growth in Asian and Middle Eastern segments in the U.S. population has resulted in higher frequency of non-sickling thalassemia disorders. Newborn screening (NBS) is used to identify hemoglobin disorders and facilitate early delivery of specialized care and education before the onset of clinical symptoms. In states without NBS requirements for alpha thalassemia, there have been delays in diagnosis of the disorder. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has a wide application in detecting disease-causing variants in genetic disorders, but it has not widely adopted for hemoglobin disorders due to cost and technical challenges. First author Sylvia Titi Singer, MD, reports on this study assessing the effectiveness of targeted NGS for confirmatory diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies in newborns. Abstract 1095

Sunday, Dec. 8, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Poster Session: Combination of Glofitamab with Pirtobrutinib in BTK Inhibitor (BTKi)-Naive or Btki-Intolerant Patients with Relapsed or Refractory (R/R) Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL): A Multicenter Phase 2 Study of the University of California Hematologic Malignancies Consortium

Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are increasingly being used in earlier lines of treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). UCSF physician-scientists Madhav Seshadri, MD, and Charalambos Andreadis, MD, present a poster on their trial, which is currently open for enrollment at UCSF and soon at multiple centers through the University of California Hematologic Malignancies Consortium. The investigators are evaluating a regimen which they anticipate will be tolerable and highly active in R/R MCL, with the potential for measurable residual disease-guided, limited-duration therapy. Abstract 3042.3

Sunday, Dec. 8, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Poster Session: Pooled Efficacy and Safety of Teclistamab in 217 Patients with Triple-Class Exposed Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma from 3 Registrational Clinical Studies

Teclistamab (tec) is the first approved B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) × CD3 bispecific antibody (BsAb) for the treatment of patients with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Tec has demonstrated rapid, deep and durable responses with a manageable safety profile in three clinical studies: the MajesTEC-1 cohort, the China cohort of MajesTEC-1 and the Japan combination phase 1 and phase 2 study. Study first author Thomas G. Martin, MD, presents pooled data of 217 patients treated with tec at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) in this globally representative population. Abstract 3331

Monday, Dec. 9, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Poster Session: Delayed Neurotoxicity after CAR-T in Multiple Myeloma: Results from a Global IMWG Registry

Study first author Anupama Deepa Kumar, MD, and senior author Ajai Chari, MD, look at emerging evidence of rare subacute to late neurological toxicities (NTs) after BCMA CAR T-cell therapy (CAR-T) in multiple myeloma (MM). Toxicities such as Parkinsonism, cranial nerve palsies and peripheral neuropathies/Guillan Barré syndrome can cause significant morbidity, but given their relative rarity in clinical trials, there is limited data regarding evaluation and treatment. The team retrospectively established a registry of NTs via the Immune Therapy Working Committee of the International Myeloma Working Group, gathering data pertaining to demographics, MM characteristics, MM response, NT signs/symptoms, diagnostic workup and treatment. Abstract 4758

See ASH 2024 for a complete listing of abstracts.

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