ASH News Daily 2016 - Issue 3 - A-12

ASH News Daily

Page A-12

Monday, December 5, 2016

The Janssen Oncology group gathers for a group photo before the
start of the ASH Foundation Run/Walk.

The runners are off for the start of the ASH Foundation Run/Walk at Embarcadero
Marina Park South.

ongratulations to this year's victors and all who particpated to
help conquer SCD!

Drs. Shoshi Tessler (left) and Liat Flaishon are the first
female finishers in the 3K during the ASH Foundation
Run/Walk.

The morning sun bursts through runners during the ASH Foundation Run/Walk.

Top Male 5K:
1) Brian Clas; 2) Noah Merin;
3) Johannes Waldschmidt
Top Female 5K:
1) Meredith Unger; 2) Jamie Pendleton;
3) Keely Lanoue
Top Male 3K:
1) J. Blake Bartlett; 2) Jim Bader;
3) Tobias Kampfenkel
Top Female 3K:
1) Shoshi Tessler; 2) Liat Flaishon;
3) Kelly Dauer-Hubschmitt
Teams with Most Participants:
1) Janssen Oncology; 2) AMGEN;
3) Novartis

PRECISION MEDICINE

Hitting the Mark in Precision Medicine
By Leslie Skeith, MD

ccording to the National
Institutes of Health, precision medicine is defined as
"an emerging approach for disease
treatment and prevention that takes
into account individual variability
in genes, environment, and lifestyle
for each person." This year at the
ASH annual meeting, research that
exemplifies precision medicine is all
around us - from improving diagnostic testing in nonmalignant hematology, to incorporating genetics
and patient fitness into the treatment
of hematologic malignancies.
"Many areas of malignant hematology are at the forefront of precision medicine research, with nonmalignant hematology not far behind"
said Dr. Ian Greer, who uses precision medicine to study obstetrical
problems such as antiphospholipid
syndrome. "Multiple complex disease processes often lead to one
common clinical outcome. By researching those underlying disease
mechanisms, we can better understand, diagnose, and treat patients

with blood disorders."
In the scientific session "Genomics in Transfusion Medicine," Dr.
Stella Chou highlighted the potential of red cell genotyping to advance the care of patients with sickle
cell disease, with a focus on matching the Rh locus to reduce alloantibody formation. Dr. William Lane
then discussed the role of using
whole-genome sequencing to better understand the relationship between a blood group genotype and
phenotype, to help predict extended
antigen matching. Whole-genome
sequencing and other DNA sequencing techniques were reviewed in the
scientific session "Progress in Identifying the Causes of Congenital Platelet Disorders." Drs. Kathleen Freson,
Jorge Di Paolo, and Nicole Soranzo
reviewed the significant advances in
identifying the mutated genes found
in inherited platelet disorders. Then,
in the education session "Von Willebrand Disease: Rediscovering an
Old Disease," Dr. Anne Goodeve
discussed the importance of molecular testing in type 2 von Willebrand
disease (vWD) while highlighting

the challenges of interpreting molecular test results in type 1 vWD.
Yesterday, new trial designs that
incorporate precision medicine
were discussed at the spotlight session titled "Precision Medicine Trials as a Novel Approach to Drug
Development." Dr. Brian Druker
discussed the concept of the "umbrella" clinical trial, in which patients with a particular subtype of
cancer, such as AML, are assigned
different treatment strategies based
on their molecular profiles. In contrast, Dr. Keith Flaherty introduced
the "basket" clinical trial design, in
which patients with various cancer
types are included in the study, with
treatment assigned based on specific molecular findings.
To top off this precision medicine
smörgåsbord, be sure not to miss the
special-interest education session
today at 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon in
Hall AB, where speakers will discuss
the development and interpretation
of molecular assays, including the
role of various stakeholders in the
future of precision medicine.
In the near future, molecular test-

ing will inform treatment decisions
and guide practice; however, it is far
from comprehensive. In the education session "Informed Decisions in
Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Beyond
Morphology and Cytogenetics,"
Dr. Arati Rao highlighted the importance of taking an individualized treatment approach for older
patients with AML by assessing patient fitness, in addition to genetic
factors. "The population is aging
and the incidence of AML is rising,"
she stated. "Thus, the onus is on the
treating oncologist to individualize
therapy keeping in mind both the
functional age of their patient and
the very heterogeneous malignancy
peppered with genetic mutations
and gene overexpressions."
While tailoring treatment using
individual patient factors to improve
patient outcomes is not a new concept; the presentations across this
year's annual meeting display the
ongoing research advances getting
us one step closer to this goal.
Dr. Skeith has no relevant conflicts of
interest.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASH News Daily 2016 - Issue 3