Dana-Farber Presents Breakthrough Findings in Blood Cancer Treatment at ASH 2025
Key Insights
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will present over 120 research presentations at the 67th American Society of Hematology (search) Annual Meeting, showcasing advances in blood cancer treatment and early detection strategies.
A Phase II study of TAG (search)-AZA-VEN triplet therapy demonstrates improved safety and efficacy for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (search), with reduced monitoring requirements and potential for transplant eligibility.
The PROMISE study screened approximately 30,000 individuals and found MGUS (search) prevalence of 12.6% overall, with higher rates in Black participants at 17.8% compared to 14.8% in non-Black participants with family history.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers will present more than 120 oral and poster presentations at the 67th American Society of Hematology (search) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Florida, from December 6 to 9, highlighting significant advances in blood cancer treatment and early detection strategies.
Novel Triplet Therapy Shows Promise for Rare Blood Cancer
Dr. Andy Lane will present Phase II results of TAG (search)-AZA-VEN—a combination of tagraxofusp, azacitidine, and venetoclax—for treating blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (search) (BPDCN (search)), a rare and aggressive blood cancer with limited treatment options. The study addresses a critical need, as tagraxofusp (TAG) is currently the only approved therapy for BPDCN, but many patients experience relapse.
The traditional 5-day TAG (search) schedule requires intensive monitoring due to capillary leak syndrome risk. However, the study demonstrated that a shorter 3-day TAG schedule within the triplet regimen was well tolerated, with capillary leak rates similar to or lower than single-agent TAG therapy.
"These early results point to a safer, more workable option that can keep patients on track, often toward transplant, while addressing co-existing disease," said Dr. Lane.
Early outcomes including response rates, transplant eligibility, and survival appeared comparable or better than TAG (search) or AZA-VEN alone, though this was not a head-to-head comparison. The regimen offers additional benefits for patients with co-occurring myeloid diseases such as myelodysplastic syndromes (search) (MDS (search)) or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (search) (CMML (search)), as the AZA-VEN component can treat these conditions alongside BPDCN (search).
Breakthrough in Early Myeloma Detection
Dr. Sabine Allam will present results from PROMISE, the first nationwide U.S. screening study for myeloma precursor conditions using mass spectrometry. The landmark study tested approximately 30,000 individuals and identified monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (search) (MGUS (search)) in 12.6% of participants overall.
Among adults aged 50 and older in high-risk groups, the study revealed significant disparities in prevalence rates. Black participants showed higher MGUS (search) prevalence at 17.8% compared to 14.8% in non-Black participants with a family history of blood cancer. Age emerged as the strongest predictor of MGUS development, while African genetic ancestry was also associated with increased prevalence.
The research team observed differences in MGUS (search) type and concentration across demographic groups, providing biological insights that could refine risk assessment and follow-up protocols. This enables earlier identification of individuals at highest risk for developing multiple myeloma (search), facilitating closer monitoring and timely intervention strategies.
"This is about bringing early detection to the people at highest risk. PROMISE shows we can do this at scale with a simple blood test and use age and ancestry-linked risk to guide smarter, more equitable screening," said Dr. Allam.
Advances in Lymphoma and Waldenström's Treatment
Dana-Farber investigators will present data on chemo-free, time-limited strategies for B-cell lymphomas (search) and fixed-duration targeted regimens for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (search). Dr. Reid Merryman will present results from a multicenter Phase II trial evaluating rituximab and epcoritamab as first-line therapy for patients with high-tumor burden follicular lymphoma (search).
In Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (search) research, Dr. Jorge Castillo will present findings on high very good partial response (VGPR) and complete response (CR) rates with pirtobrutinib plus venetoclax in previously treated patients. Dr. Shayna Sarosiek will present data on deep responses following treatment with loncastuximab tesirine in patients with relapsed/refractory disease, including those with high-risk, TP53-altered Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.
Transplant Safety Improvements
Dr. Mahasweta Gooptu will present results from a Phase II study examining post-transplant cyclophosphamide-based graft-versus-host disease (search) (GVHD (search)) prophylaxis after HLA-mismatched unrelated donor transplantation using reduced-intensity conditioning. The research, conducted through the NMDP (search)-sponsored ACCESS expansion study, aims to improve GVHD prevention while maintaining disease control.
"Our goal is to make mismatched unrelated donor transplants safer and more accessible," said Gooptu. "If this strategy continues to show favorable tolerability and GVHD (search) control, it could broaden curative options for patients who urgently need a donor."
Additional Research Presentations
The conference will also feature presentations on mechanistic insights into sickle cell pathobiology by Dr. Lachelle Weeks, subgroup analyses from the Phase III VERONA study in higher-risk MDS (search) by Dr. Jacqueline Garcia, and patient-centered outcomes research in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (search) by Dr. Kira Bona.
These presentations represent Dana-Farber's commitment to translating laboratory discoveries into clinical advances that improve patient care and outcomes across the spectrum of blood cancers and related disorders.