For decades, questions have persisted about whether exposure to Agent Orange contributes to the development of blood cancers among Vietnam War veterans. New research sheds light on this issue, identifying a significant association between Agent Orange exposure and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of bone marrow disorders that can progress to acute leukemia.
No Racial Differences in DLBCL Treatment Within VA Healthcare System
No statistically significant racial differences in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) outcomes were found for patients treated within the VHA, according to recent research.
Very Elderly Patients Fare Much Worse When Treated for DLBCL
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) becomes much more difficult to treat in older patients, according to a new study suggesting that more adults of advanced age be included in clinical trials for new agents.
Despite Disparities, Making a Difference for Veterans With Relapsed DLBCL
DURHAM, NC—Recent Food and Drug Administration approvals of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies and novel immunotherapies have helped to significantly improve outcomes for patients with relapsed and refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL)....
More Diverse Dataset Raises Questions about MGUS Risk Models
Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) have been thought to have a less than 1% chance of progressing to multiple myeloma as long as their M-protein levels are below 1.5 g/dL.
Lower Relapse Rates Suggest Limited Value for Prophylaxis in DLBCL
Up to 40% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapse or progress following first-line chemoimmunotherapy.
For CLL, BTK Inhibitors Appear to Extend Time to Next Line Most
JACKSONVILLE, FL—As treatment options for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) multiply, physicians face an increasing array of sequencing options but have little guidance from clinical trials of the most effective order given each patient’s specific disease...
MGUS Higher in Servicemembers, No Association Seen With Burn Pit Exposure
Individuals who have served in the U.S. military have about three times the risk of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) as a similarly aged cohort in the Icelandic iStopMM study.
BTK Inhibitors Provide Option for CLL Patients With Severe Renal Dysfunction
BTK inhibitors have proven to be a powerful tool in CLL treatment and have replaced chemoimmunotherapy as the preferred first-line treatment.
Evaluate Veterans With MGUS for Cardiovascular Disease
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is not considered a hematological condition of concern, yet it is associated with lower overall survival. VA researchers led by Lawrence Liu, MD, of the St. Louis VAMC, explored whether the reduced life expectancy arose from an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
Dasatinib Fails to Improve Outcomes in B-ALL With ABL-Class Fusions
While most blood cancers affect people in their later years, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) strikes at a much earlier age. It is the most common hematologic malignancy in adults under the age of 40, the age range of 80% of U.S. servicemembers.
Deployment Linked to Longer Survival in Servicemembers, Veterans With NHL
A study presented at the 2023 ASH Conference, provided additional evidence for the healthy deployer effect, this time in individuals with non-Hodkin lymphoma.
Which Veterans Should Undergo SPEP Testing for Plasma Cell Dyscrasia?
Plasma cell dyscrasia affects up to 5% of adults. While often asymptomatic, its characteristic clonal expansion of bone marrow plasma cells can also indicate the presence of several hematological malignancies including multiple myeloma.
GLP-1 Use Reduces Risk of MGUS Progression in Some Veterans
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have gained huge popularity as they have demonstrated the ability to substantially reduce both blood-glucose levels and weight. In addition, recent research suggests cardiovascular and renal benefits to their use in certain populations.
Agent Orange Increases CVD Risk in Veterans With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
As Vietnam-era veterans move into the age range in which most myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) develop, the VA has a keen interest in fully understanding the full impact of exposure to Agent Orange in veterans with these malignancies.
CLL Patients at the VA Receive Evidence-Based Treatments
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) are the most common forms of adult leukemia. More than 13,000 veterans have the diagnosis, which is associated with the toxic exposures included in the Pact Act, according to the VA.
B-cell lymphoma Presenting With Cranial Nerve Palsy, Mononeuritis Multiplex
Diagnosing B-cell lymphoma-associated mononeuritis multiplex, a peripheral neuropathy, can be challenging because of its rarity and the potential co-existence of other causes of the symptoms.
Older Age of DLBCL Patients Makes Treatment Challenging
Nearly one-half (49%) of all veterans in the United States are 65 years or older. Most of those older veterans (5.5 million) served during the Vietnam era, while 183,000 were World War II veterans, according to the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS).
Thrombosis Risk With Cancer Treatment Varies With VA Patient Characteristics
PORTLAND, OR -- Has cancer-directed therapy changed patterns of the incidence and risk of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) at the VA? That was the question raised in a cohort study of 434,203 veterans with solid tumors and hematologic neoplasms within the VHA....
High Serum TARC Levels Predict Hodgin Lymphoma Years Before Diagnosis
A study found that TARC levels measured in pre-diagnostic serum samples had notably increased values in most patients up to over six years before diagnosis.
Lymphoma Most-Common Cancer Diagnosed in Active-Duty Military Personnel
SAN ANTONIO –Active-duty servicemembers diagnosed with lymphoma within the MHS had better overall survival than a matched civilian cohort, but the authors of a study with that finding emphasized that more information is needed to ensure optimal treatment for those...