Pharmacy Focus Oncology: Advancements in Hematology and Breast Cancer - ASH and SABCS 2023 Recap

On this month's episode, Pharmacy Times covers the American Society of Hematology and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2023 conferences, highlighting updates on leukemia and breast cancer therapies. Interviews include: Amir Ali, PharmD, BCOP, Xiaolin Zhang, PhD, Douglas Warner, MD, and Troy Bremer, PhD.

For more ASH and SABCS coverage, visit pharmacytimes.com

Key Takeaways:

1. Ali discusses how Ph-positive ALL originates from the discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome in the 1950s at the University of Pennsylvania. Highlighting that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting BCR-ABL1 have improved survival rates for patients with Ph-positive ALL.
2. Zhang discusses that DZD8586 is a dual inhibitor designed to target both the BTK and Lyn pathways in B cell signaling transduction. Emphasizing how DZD8586 aims to overcome resistance and enhance efficacy by inhibiting both pathways, potentially benefiting patients who do not respond well to BTK inhibitors alone.
3. Warner discusses how zotatifin suppresses the production of key tumor-promoting proteins by inhibiting the enzyme eIF4A, which unwinds messenger RNA. He notes that clinical studies are ongoing to evaluate the safety and efficacy of zotatifin in combination with fulvestrant, with a focus on dose escalation and expansion.
4. Bremer discusses how A biosignature helps identify patients at risk of late-stage recurrence in early-stage invasive breast cancer. He notes that radiation therapy remains critical in reducing local recurrences and improving the quality of life for patients.