Category: Hematology
Clinical Challenges: Using MRD in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Management
Catherine Coombs, MD For patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), minimal residual disease (MRD) has emerged as a highly sensitive indicator of disease burden during and at the end of treatment, and has correlated with time-to-event outcomes. Use of MRD has shown promise for guiding duration of treatment for CLL patients on time-limited therapy. “MRD measurement is not n … Read more
New Approaches to Hemophilia Treatment: ‘Our Cup Runneth Over’
Alice Ma, MD, FACP In a session titled “Hemophilia Update: Our Cup Runneth Over,” presented at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), experts in the treatment of bleeding disorders discussed the optimal use of factor concentrates in people with hemophilia, new and investigational alternatives to factor concentrates, and the promise of long-time contr … Read more
Hematology/Oncology Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Equity Council Sam Cykert, MD, and Marjory Charlot, MD. Four members of the Department of Medicine are working to bring diversity, equity and inclusion principles into critical areas of UNC Lineberger. “This is a group of 14 faculty, graduate students, and staff–and we’re in the process of identifying patients and community members–com … Read more
Unusual Accident, Blood Clot Diagnosis Leads Leasburg Woman to UNC’s DVT Clinic
Cassi Frank, MMSc,PA-C A Leasburg woman is grateful to be back on her feet after months of surgeries and rehabilitation. While on a cross-country vacation, an unusual accident left her with a huge gash in her leg and swelling that wouldn’t go down. UNC’s hematology specialists determined blood clots were behind the swelling. In a recent CBS-17 news report, Cassi Frank, MMSc, PA- … Read more
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: September 1 – September 30, 2021
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Andrea Azcarate-Peril, PhD, received an NC TraCS pilot grant award. Division of Geriatric Medicine Joshua Niznik, PharmD, PhD, received an NC TraCS pilot grant award. UNC’s Center for Aging and Health received a two-year Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services grant (with University o … Read more
Serody Receives Grant to Evaluate Epigenetic Changes in Innate Immune Cells During Stem Cell Transplantation
Jonathan Serody, MD, the Elizabeth Thomas Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and chief of the Division of Hematology, received an NIH (NHLBI) R01 grant of $3.4M to evaluate epigenetic changes in innate lymphoid cells as a mediator of acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GvHD) after stem cell transplantation. The grant is in collaboration with Samantha Pattenden, PhD, … Read more
Immunotherapy After High-Dose Chemotherapy Leads to Favorable Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Joshua Zeidner, MD A clinical trial conducted at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center found that high-dose cytarabine followed by subsequent immunotherapy treatment with pembrolizumab benefited patients with resistant or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a highly aggressive cancer. The findings were published … Read more
Grant Receives $200,000 to Study Impact of Multiple Myeloma on Older Adult Patients, Care Partners
Shakira Grant, MBBS The National Institute on Aging has awarded Shakira Grant, MBBS, and the UNC Center for Aging and Health a 2-year, $200,000 grant to study the illness and treatment experiences and functional trajectories of older adults with multiple myeloma and their care partners. Grant is assistant professor in the divisions of hematology and geriatric medicine. Multiple m … Read more
Emerging Therapies For AML With Myelodysplasia-Related Changes: Slowly But Surely Moving the Needle
David Phillips, MD, and Josh Zeidner, MD Patients with acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) have historically poor outcomes with conventional chemotherapy regimens. Davis Phillips, MD, internal medicine resident, and Josh Zeidner, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of hematology, published an article that reviews the data for exist … Read more
Sickle Cell Disease Conference: Moving On – A Post COVID Look at Sickle Cell Disease, September 24-25, 2021
The 9th Annual Sickle Cell Disease Conference encompasses two virtual sessions September 24 and 25, 2021, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. This conference is a joint activity between the UNC Sickle Cell Disease Program and Duke University School of Nursing. Session one on September 24 will provide an update on the latest evidence in sickle cell management, including new FDA-approved pharma … Read more
Zeidner Explains Transformation to AML in Higher-Risk MDS On OncLive.
Joshua Zeidner, MD Joshua F. Zeidner, MD, associate professor of medicine in the division of hematology, discussed the risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS), recently on OncLiveTV. Watch OncLive TV.
Promising Therapy For Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma
Natalie Grover, MD Natalie Grover, MD, assistant professor in the division of hematology and clinical director of the cell therapy program in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses her research on anti-CD30 CAR-T therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma in a new video featured on the Oncology Learning Network. Following is an excerpt from the … Read more