ASCO: New targeted treatments for blood cancers show promise

Results from four pivotal clinical trials show that new targeted therapies could vastly improve treatment for people with chronic-lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), myelofibrosis, indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma. These important, late-breaking studies were presented on Saturday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) 51st annual meeting.

The four clinical trials reveal new therapies that extend cancer remissions, stall progression, and, for some patients, alleviate debilitating cancer-related symptoms.

“We’ve made tremendous progress against many forms of blood cancer, but there are still patients with few to no treatment options,” said ASCO press briefing moderator Charles Ryan, adding: “By exploiting cancer’s genetic vulnerabilities, we’re finally in a position to help keep the disease at bay for these patients and ease some of their most difficult symptoms.”