ASH Clinical News ACN_3.13_FULL_ISSUE_DIGITAL | Page 75

Hematologists have been on the front lines of cancer immunotherapy , including the development of chimeric antigen receptor ( CAR ) T-cell therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors . In support of this promising area of hematology , the American Society of Hematology ( ASH ) highlighted immunologic treatments for hematologic malignancies as one of its six research priorities in its Agenda for Hematology Research . The Society also has assembled a Task Force on Immunotherapy to address key issues pertaining to this area of precision medicine . In addition , ASH has designated immunotherapy a focus of upcoming meetings , with the goal of improving these therapies and speeding their progress from bench to bedside .

Here are a few areas in which ASH is focusing on the importance of Immunotherapy throughout the year .

The ASH Agenda for Hematology Research

The ASH Agenda for Hematology Research serves as a roadmap for the prioritization of research support across the hematology community , including recommendations for dedicated resources from funding agencies and foundations . One of ASH ’ s priorities is : Immunologic Treatments of Hematologic

Malignancies : Moving Beyond Salvage Therapy to Curative Eradication of Minimal Residual Disease

Next-generation clinical studies will address important questions about emerging immunologic therapies but require an improved understanding of the basic biology of the immune system , including adaptive immunity , innate immunity , adjuvants , and tumor immune-surveillance .

To tackle these questions , critical near-term research priorities should include :

1 . Optimizing the use of CAR T-cell and checkpoint blockade strategies to cure hematologic malignancies and eradicate minimal residual disease

2 . Improving efficacy and reducing toxicity for CAR T-cell and checkpoint blockade strategies

3 . Improving effectiveness of existing curative therapies , specifically allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

For more information about ASH ’ s research priorities in this area , visit hematology . org / research / agenda .

Introducing the ASH Summit on Emerging Immunotherapies for Hematologic Diseases

July 12-13 , 2018 Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington , DC

ASH ’ s newest meeting will examine preclinical and clinical factors influencing the effective development , regulation , and implementation of immunotherapies for hematologic diseases . The summit ’ s interactive format will encourage collaboration among clinicians , academicians , industry , regulators , patient advocates , and other experts focused on or interested in immunotherapy research .

Attendees will :

• Discuss the current state of the science for cellular therapies , checkpoint inhibitors , and other forms of immunotherapy as it relates to all hematologic diseases

• Identify knowledge gaps and challenges that need to be addressed to improve the use of immunotherapies

• Outline strategies needed to improve effective regulation and implementation of these therapies into clinical practice

Summit Co-Chairs :

• Catherine Bollard , MD , Children ’ s National Health System , Washington , DC

• Rodrigo Calado , MD , PhD , University of São Paulo , Brazil

• Sergio Giralt , MD , Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York , NY

• Jeffrey Miller , MD , University of Minnesota , Minneapolis , MN

For more information on the summit , visit hematology . org / Immunotherapies .

For more information on the Task Force on Immunotherapies , please contact Alice Kuaban at akuaban @ hematology . org .

Immunotherapy at the Annual Meeting

Several sessions at the 2017 ASH Annual Meeting will focus on the development of immunotherapies for hematologic malignancies , appropriate patient selection , management of toxicities , and the practical considerations for using immunotherapies in clinical practice . To view details on all 2017 ASH Annual Meeting sessions focused on immunotherapies , visit hematology . org / annual-meeting / program .