Using artificial intelligence to distinguish between two rare blood cancers, optimal therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment and disparities in multiple myeloma are among the research topics being presented by investigators of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting held Dec. 9-12 in San Diego. ASH leads the world in promoting and supporting clinical and scientific hematology research through its many innovative award programs, meetings, publications and advocacy efforts. The ASH annual meeting features the most complete research and advancements in hematology diagnosis and treatments. Highlights from the OSUCCC – James team include (all times listed below are Pacific): Press Program Andrew Srisuwananukorn, MD Interpretable Artificial Intelligence Differentiates Prefibrotic Primary Myelofibrosis from Essential Thrombocythemia: A Multi-Center Study of a New Clinical Decision Support Tool WHEN: 7:15 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 (press program presentation); 2:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 (oral presentation) A new study suggests artificial intelligence algorithms could help identify between prefibrotic primary myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia. This is important to inform treatment approaches and enroll patients in clinical trials, but it’s hard to distinguish between the two cancers with current methods. Scientific Workshops Ashley Rosko, MD Scientific Workshop on Hematology and Aging WHEN: 2-5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8 Rosko and other moderators and panel participants will discuss factors that impact the health and treatment protocol of older adult patients with blood, bone and lymphatic cancers. Srinivas Devarakonda, MD Tackling Greater Burden of Multiple Myeloma in African American Patients WHEN: 4:30-5:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 Devarakonda will address the need for African American patients in scientific research in multiple myeloma to reduce the outcome disparities. Enrollment of African American patients into genomic studies and clinical trials is vital to study the unique tumor and host biology, and to better inform clinical use of approved therapies. Oral Presentations Adam Kittai, MD Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Richter’s Transformation: An International Multicenter Retrospective Study WHEN: 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 Richter’s transformation is a disease of unmet need, and is associated with poor survival rates. In this multicenter international retrospective study, researchers evaluated the use of CAR T-cell therapy for Richter’s transformation (RT). The team found that CAR T-cell therapy can induce durable remissions in select patients with relapsed or refractory RT. CAR T-cell therapy can and should be used for patients with RT and may be better utilized in earlier lines of therapy. Jennifer Woyach, MD Initial Results of a Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study of LP-168, a Novel Covalent and Non-Covalent Next-Generation Inhibitor of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase WHEN: 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 and Targeting Covalent and Non-Covalent Btki-Resistant CLL Using the Dual Irreversible/Reversible 4th Generation BTK Inhibitor LP-168 WHEN: 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 LP-168 is a novel Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that has dual action—in the presence of wild type BTK, it binds covalently, but if BTK is mutated, it can bind reversibly. Ohio State researchers have performed the first preclinical work with this drug in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and then led the phase 1 clinical trial in B-cell malignancies. The data demonstrated safety and preliminary efficacy in a heavily pretreated CLL population, including in patients previously treated with other covalent and noncovalent BTK inhibitors. Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD, and Alice Mims, MD Genomic Profiles and Associated Survival Prognosticators in Black Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia WHEN: 3:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 In this study, researchers present the landscape of genetic changes found in the leukemic cells of African American patients. This is relevant, as those patients have previously been underrepresented in acute myeloid leukemia genetic studies. This study also gives evidence about differences in the prognostic relevance of established genetic markers and suggests changes in treatment decision making. Srinivas Devarakonda, MD, and Marcos de Lima, MD, et al Predictive Score for Utilization of Second Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma WHEN: 3:45 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 Transplanting healthy stem cells back to a patient with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) can be an effective treatment option. It is standard practice to collect enough stem cells for two transplants from eligible patients with newly diagnosed MM, however, it’s not known how often the second transplant procedures are needed. The transplants are expensive with the added risk of complications from central venous access such as bleeding, infection and granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration. Poster Presentations Kerry Rogers, MD, and Jennifer Woyach, MD Initial Results of a Phase 2 Study of Venetoclax Added to Ibrutinib to Eliminate Ibrutinib Resistance Mutations in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 In this phase 2 study, adding treatment with venetoclax to ibrutinib in patient’s whose chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed the BTK C481S ibrutinib resistance mutation decreased this mutation below the detection limit in 59% of patients after 12 cycles of treatment. This combination allowed 32% of patients to stop treatment who would otherwise have needed continuous treatment. The median progression-free survival (40.7 months) – an indication on how long someone’s cancer growth has stopped and remained stable – supports further investigation of this approach. Uma Borate, MD, and Alice Mims, MD Influence of Pre-Treatment Features and Therapy Choice By Physicians on Overall Survival in Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Report from the Beat AML Master Trial WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 The use of multiple targeted therapies has transformed care for patients age 60 and older with acute myeloid leukemia. This has allowed more patients to receive therapy than before. The most successful has been the combination of venetoclax and azacitidine which generated higher overall complete response rates in phase 2 studies than would be expected with azacitidine alone, leading to faster FDA approval on November 21, 2018. To learn more about research and patient cancer care at the OSUCCC – James, visit cancer.osu.edu. To learn more about Ohio State’s presence at ASH, visit cancer.osu.edu/ASH2023. ### Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, mary.fiorino@osumc.edu