Blood Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Spotlight on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Oct 16, 2025

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In this Spotlight series episode on Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Blood Editor, Dr. Selina Luger interviews Drs. Laura Michaelis and Alexander Perl on their paper in the series titled “The fit older adult with acute myeloid leukemia: clinical challenges to providing evidence-based frontline treatment”. The conversation explores challenges in treating AML across different patient populations. They also focus on treatment approaches for fit older adults with AML, highlighting the need for less toxic therapies and ongoing randomized trials to better understand treatment efficacy.

See the full spotlight series on Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Volume 145 Issue 24 of Blood journal.

Busulfan-melphalan conditioning in newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible multiple myeloma; and use of spatial transcriptomics to probe the three-dimensional properties of multiple myeloma bone marrow microenvironments Oct 14, 2025

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In this week's episode we’ll learn more about a study comparing busulfan-melphalan with melphalan alone as the conditioning protocol for newly diagnosed, transplant-eligible multiple myeloma; then we will discuss data on how three-dimensional transcriptomics can reveal complex interactions between plasma cells and bone marrow microenvironments.

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How I Treat Wiskott-Alrich syndrome Oct 02, 2025

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In this How I Treat podcast episode, Laura Michaelis, MD interviews Sung-Yun Pai, MD about their recently published article in Blood journal "How I treat Wiskott-Alrich syndrome". They highlight recent updates in treatment, including new risk-benefit calculations due to safer treatments and longer follow-ups. Challenges include late diagnosis, lack of well-matched donors, and limited gene therapy availability. They emphasize the importance of early referral to specialized centers and the need for discussions about curative intent therapies, including transplant and gene therapy. The conversation also covers the complexities of gene therapy, such as the need for better conditioning agents and the challenges of achieving full correction in all cell types.

Use of Marstacimab for Prophylaxis in hemophilia A and B; matched-donor allogeneic CD19 CAR-T in adult B-ALL; a new prognostic index for T-cell cutaneous lymphomas Oct 02, 2025

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In this week's episode we'll learn about targeting the tissue factor pathway inhibitor with a monoclonal antibody to rebalance HEMOSTASIS in hemophilia A and B. In the phase 3 BASIS trial, the monoclonal antibody marstacimab reduced bleeding events, and was generally well tolerated, with no unanticipated side effects. After that: matched-donor allogeneic CD19 CAR-T for adult B-ALL. Given after allogeneic transplantation, CAR-donor lymphocyte infusion after lymphodepleting chemotherapy was associated with favorable efficacy and a tolerable safety profile. Finally: a new prognostic index for mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. Comprised of four prognostic factors, the “CLIPI” could enable more personalized treatment of cutaneous lymphomas, identifying patients who may benefit from intensified treatment.

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Review Series on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Sep 18, 2025

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In this Review Series episode, Associate Editor Dr. Hervé Dombret speaks with Dr. Mark Litzow about the latest immunotherapy advances for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The discussion highlights innovative treatments like blinatumomab and inotuzumab, which are showing remarkable success in clinical trials, including an 85% three-year survival rate and over 90% complete remission in elderly patients. Researchers are focusing on reducing chemotherapy intensity, developing personalized treatment approaches, and identifying optimal immunotherapy strategies for different ALL subtypes. The conversation underscores a promising shift towards more targeted, less toxic treatments that could significantly improve patient outcomes across various age groups and disease characteristics. These emerging therapies represent a potential paradigm shift in ALL treatment, offering hope for more effective and less aggressive therapeutic interventions.

Read Dr. Litzow's paper “Incorporation of immunotherapy into frontline treatment for adults with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia” or find the whole review series on acute lymphoblastic leukemia in volume 145 issue 14 of Blood Journal.

Azacitidine holds promise in VEXAS syndrome; a step forward in precision blood matching; identifying a new vulnerability in TP53-mutated AML Sep 18, 2025

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In this week's episode we'll learn about Azacitidine in VEXAS syndrome. Treatment can provide responses in patients with this complex autoinflammatory disorder. But relapse rates were high, so long-term therapy may be required to maintain disease control. After that: A step forward in precision blood matching. High-throughput array genotyping enables extended matching to reduce antibody formation. The results show the potential for reducing harm in regularly transfused patients. Finally, identifying a new vulnerability in TP53-mutated AML. Loss of the tumor suppressor BAP1 defines a unique subtype of TP53-mutated de novo AML. BAP1 loss also confers sensitivity to BCL-xL inhibitors in vivo, opening a new therapeutic avenue.

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“Ironing out” Tet2-mutant HSPCs; A CAR-T “license to kill” in T cell leukemia/lymphoma; insights on cHL genetics, through the lens of ctDNA Sep 04, 2025

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In this week's episode, we'll learn about how TET2 is often mutated in myeloid malignancies and clonal hematopoiesis. In new work, expansion of Tet2-mutant HSPCs was dependent on Ncoa4, the cargo receptor mediating ferritinophagy. We’ll iron out the implications. After that: a double-oh-seven license to kill in T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. WU-CART-007 is an off-the-shelf CAR T product with manageable safety and encouraging efficacy. With further work, it could become a new option for patients in urgent need of therapy. Finally: a comprehensive genetic study of classical Hodgkin lymphoma using circulating tumor DNA. This new research provides novel and complex insights on genetic subtypes, prognostic biomarkers, neoantigens in the disease environment, and more.

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Targeting NPM1 in AML with a menin inhibitor; in primates, a CD137 ADC eliminates acute GVHD Aug 28, 2025

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In this week's episode we'll learn about targeting NPM1 in acute myeloid leukemia. Researchers report the first clinical evidence of a menin inhibitor inducing complete remissions in AML with a NPM1 mutation. This validates NPM1 as a new therapeutic target in AML, alongside FLT3, IDH1/2, and KMT2A. Also on the podcast: targeting CD137 to prevent graft-versus-host disease. In nonhuman primates, a single dose of a CD137 antibody-drug conjugate provided long-term protection, with one important caveat: the potential for viral reactivation.

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