Leukemia
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Oct 12 – Oct 19, 2026
Ponatinib-Blinatumomab or Imatinib-Chemotherapy for Adult Ph-Positive ALL.
NEW ENGL J MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #2/332TOP-TIER
This randomized phase 3 trial evaluated ponatinib plus blinatumomab versus imatinib plus chemotherapy as frontline treatment for adult Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A total of 236 patients were randomized 2:1 to the intervention (n=158) or control (n=78) group, with crossover permitted for control patients with persistent or recurrent measurable residual disease. At a median follow-up of 23.7 months, 24-month event-free survival was 86% versus 67% (P<0.001), and molecular response rates after consolidation were 71% versus 49%, favoring the chemotherapy-free regimen. The authors concluded that the frontline chemotherapy-free targeted and immunotherapeutic approach was superior to imatinib plus chemotherapy.
10.1056/NEJMoa2606208
Oct 05 – Oct 12, 2026
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in aggressive Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma: a prospective multicenter study.
BLOOD ADV · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #13/98
This prospective multicenter trial evaluated the feasibility and outcomes of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) following frontline chemotherapy in 80 aggressive Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) patients, with 39 ultimately proceeding to allo-SCT using a Thiotepa-Busulfan-Fludarabine conditioning regimen. Two-year overall survival from first-line therapy was 45%, and time-dependent analysis demonstrated a significant survival benefit for allo-SCT (hazard ratio, 0.32). Three-year overall survival and progression-free survival were both 52%, with one-year non-relapse mortality of 15% and cumulative relapse incidence of 35%; absence of complete or partial response at allo-SCT was the primary risk factor for poor outcomes. The authors conclude that allo-SCT provides benefit in eligible ATL patients, supported by molecular evidence of undetectable tumor clones post-transplant suggesting a potent graft-versus-ATL effect.
10.1182/bloodadvances.2026020323
Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion trial of the bispecific CD47 inhibitor and CD40 agonist Fc-fusion protein SL-172154 (SIRPα-Fc-CD40L) in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia.
CANCER-AM CANCER SOC · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #68/326
This phase 1 dose escalation and expansion trial evaluated the bispecific CD47 inhibitor and CD40 agonist Fc-fusion protein SL-172154 alone or combined with azacitidine (AZA) in 81 patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS, n=33) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n=48). Dose escalation tested 1, 3, and 6 mg/kg SL-172154; expansion used 3 mg/kg plus AZA in untreated HR-MDS (n=24, 21 TP53 mutant) and TP53 mutant AML (n=21). Complete remission occurred in 10/24 (43%) HR-MDS and 6/21 (29%) TP53m AML patients, with median overall survival of 11.0 and 11.7 months, respectively. The combination was generally well tolerated but showed no substantial survival improvement over historical benchmarks.
10.1002/cncr.70626
Sep 28 – Oct 05, 2026
Induction and extended consolidation with daratumumab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in patients with high-risk multiple myeloma (OPTIMUM/MUKnine): 5-year follow-up of a multicentre, externally controlled, phase 2 trial.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This multicentre, externally controlled, phase 2 trial (OPTIMUM/MUKnine) evaluated intensified induction, extended consolidation, and maintenance therapy with daratumumab, cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone in 107 patients with newly diagnosed high-risk multiple myeloma across 22 UK centres. At 5-year follow-up, median progression-free survival was not reached versus 24.4 months in the external control cohort (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.22-0.45; p<0.0001), and overall survival was also not reached versus 57.4 months (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.28-0.65; p<0.0001). Progression-free survival 2 was not reached versus 43.9 months (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.17-0.41; p<0.0001), with consistent benefit across most high-risk subgroups. The authors conclude that risk-stratified extended therapy shows sustained survival improvement, supporting molecular diagnostics and tailored treatment in high-risk multiple myeloma.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00286-X
Sep 14 – Sep 21, 2026
Blinatumomab for Replacing Chemotherapy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
NEW ENGL J MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #2/332TOP-TIER
This prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluated whether blinatumomab could replace two cycles of chemotherapy in 709 children with newly diagnosed high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after consolidation. Patients were randomized 1:1 to blinatumomab (n=358) or chemotherapy (n=351), with the primary endpoint being 4-year event-free survival (EFS). Results showed significantly higher 4-year EFS with blinatumomab (83.0% vs. 70.3%; HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.35-0.73; P=0.0002), with lower infection rates (23.9% vs. 69.4%) but higher neurotoxic events (12.0% vs. 3.2%). The authors concluded that blinatumomab replacement of two chemotherapy cycles resulted in significantly greater EFS in this population.
10.1056/NEJMoa2604166
Aug 31 – Sep 07, 2026
Pre-treatment T cell features and immune-milieu characteristics shape treatment-induced exhaustion and resistance to Blinatumomab in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
FRONT IMMUNOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #32/183
This prospective study evaluated immunological determinants of resistance to blinatumomab in 34 B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients through longitudinal peripheral blood profiling, including flow cytometry, single-cell CITE-seq, cytotoxicity assays, and serum proteomics. Responders had higher baseline CD8 effector memory T cells with cytotoxic gene expression, while non-responders showed activation without cytotoxic commitment and progressive TIM3+ CD8 T-cell expansion during treatment. Non-responders also exhibited an immunosuppressive milieu with elevated M2-polarizing factors and Galectin-9, correlating with exhaustion. The study concludes that baseline T-cell features and immune milieu shape treatment-induced exhaustion and resistance, supporting risk stratification and combination strategies.
10.3389/fimmu.2026.1895742
Azacitidine-Venetoclax or Induction Chemotherapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
NEW ENGL J MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #2/332TOP-TIER
This multicenter, phase 2, randomized controlled trial compared azacitidine-venetoclax with standard induction chemotherapy in 172 previously untreated adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were eligible for induction therapy (86 per group). The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). At a median follow-up of 21.9 months, median EFS was significantly longer in the azacitidine-venetoclax group (14.5 months) than in the induction chemotherapy group (6.2 months), with a hazard ratio for event or death of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.39 to 0.84; P=0.002). The authors concluded that azacitidine-venetoclax led to significantly longer EFS than induction chemotherapy in this patient population.
10.1056/NEJMoa2602804
A phase 1 trial of CD123-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in adults with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia or blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm.
J HEMATOL ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/98TOP-TIER
This single-center, open-label, phase 1 dose-escalation trial evaluated CD123-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in adults with relapsed/refractory (r/r) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). A total of 21 patients (19 with AML, 2 with BPDCN) received autologous or donor-derived CAR T cells following lymphodepletion, with co-primary objectives of assessing safety and anti-tumor activity. Results showed no dose-limiting toxicity or graft-versus-host disease, with 74% of AML patients experiencing grade ≤3 cytokine release syndrome and a complete remission rate of 26.7% among 15 evaluable AML patients; one BPDCN patient achieved CR. The authors concluded that CD123 CAR T-cell therapy is feasible with a favorable safety profile in this heavily pretreated population, supporting further optimization.
10.1186/s13045-026-01833-3
Aug 17 – Aug 24, 2026
A phase 1 feasibility trial of BE-CAR33, an “off-the-shelf” base-edited CAR33 T cell therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.
SCI TRANSL MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/195TOP-TIER
This phase 1, open-label, nonrandomized, single-center clinical trial evaluated the safety, feasibility, and activity of BE-CAR33, a base-edited allogeneic anti-CD33 CAR T cell therapy, in patients with relapsed/refractory AML. Three pediatric patients (plus one adult via compassionate access) received fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and alemtuzumab followed by 1.2–1.8×10^6 BE-CAR33 cells/kg. Treatment-emergent adverse events included cytokine release syndrome (grade ≤2), neurotoxicity (grade 3), cytopenias (grade 4), and transient rashes; two patients showed reduced minimal residual disease and proceeded to allo-SCT. Although primary endpoints were not met, the study demonstrated the feasibility of this ‘off-the-shelf’ approach and informs future multiantigen strategies.
10.1126/scitranslmed.aei0875