Onco’Zine – The International Oncology Network, offers readers a brief selection and summary of the sessions from the 19th Congress of the European Hematology Association being held June 12 – 15 in Milan, Italy. This year?s congress is tailored to meet the needs of the large variety of medical specialties and interest fields. The program has been compiled by the Scientific Program Committee and the Advisory Board under the leadership of Pieter Sonneveld, MD, PhD, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Hematology, is the science or study that covers everything related to blood, from its origin in the bone marrow as well as blood diseases and their treatments. It’s the branch of medicine that is concerned with the physiology, pathology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention of blood-related disorders – including a variety of disorders and malignancies, such as hemophilia, leukemia, lymphoma and sickle-cell anemia.
At the 19th Congress of the European Hematology Association researchers, scientists, hematologists as well as physicians involved in the care and management of patients with hematological disorders and malignancies, discuss the latest scientific data on clinical research and treatment options for people with hematological disorders. The topics being discussed range from stem cell physiology and 
development, to leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma – diagnosis and treatment, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet disorders, thrombosis and bleeding disorders.
This year, the program offered attendees the most cutting-edge science and education designed to help them to achieve the highest standard of patient care.
This year, a total of 2342 abstracts were submitted for inclusion in the 2014 scientific program. After reviewing the abstract, the Scientific Program Committee selected 200 abstracts for a presentation in one of the 40 oral sessions. These abstract cover all fields of hematology.
Novel oral anti-coagulants or NOACs are now available which do not require frequent long-term monitoring…
Cutting-edge results
It is now possible with gene therapy for patients with hemophilia to be free from severe bleeding. Data about patients who remain free from the need for preventative injections for two years will be presented at this year’s congress.
During the meeting, new understanding of how gene therapy technology might be applied to treat patients with other inherited diseases will also be discussed.
Inherited bleeding tendency – hemophilia – can have devastating effects on the lives of patients and, if uncontrolled, can be life-threatening. Children and adults must receive injections of clotting factor proteins to prevent severe bleeding episodes, which in the long-term may deform joints resulting in significant physical disability.
Formation of red cells
Through collaborative global efforts, over 140 new genes have been identified that are important for the formation of red cells and platelets. A better understanding of how these genes work will improve our understanding of a wide range of conditions, including very rare bleeding disorders due to defects involving platelets. At this year’s Congress attendees will hear how knowledge of these genes will become integrated into clinical practice to benefit patients.
Too thick
Blood that is too thick can lead to an excessive tendency to clot formation, particularly in veins in the legs and lungs, and can also lead to strokes. Patients have been treated with oral anti-coagulants or anti-clotting drugs that require long-term monitoring and can be affected by food and other medications. This can result in frequent disruption to the lives of patients.
Novel oral anti-coagulants or NOACs are now available which do not require frequent long-term monitoring, and may also be safer. Results of clinical trials will be presented that help guide the selection of patient groups which may benefit from this true advance in patient care.
Highlights & News
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Video Reports:
- EHA News Reports 1 from the 19th EHA in Milan, Italy [Overview]
- EHA News Reports 2 from the 19th EHA in Milan, Italy [Overview]
- EHA News Reports 3 from the 19th EHA in Milan, Italy [Overview]
Articles:
- Preclinical Data of Novel Antibody-drug Conjugate IMGN779 Demonstrates Potent Activity Against CD33-expressing Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells – ADC Review/Journal of Antibody-drug Conjugates (June 16, 2014) [Article]
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