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Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell-therapy is on a roll. Today marks the seventh approval of CAR T therapy since the first approval in 2017. While all prior approvals with CAR T have directed the engineered T-cells to CD19, a marker on the surface of malignancies derived from B-cells, this is the first approval of a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CAR T. Idecabtegene vicleucel or ide-cel (Abecma) is the first approval of a CAR T for multiple myeloma. This approval comes on the h...

In honor of Myeloma Awareness Month in March, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is shining a light on how we champion myeloma cures and care. For Jennifer Flowers, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008, our free education and support services and the powerful sense of community at our Light The Night events have made all the difference. Motivated to help other blood cancer patients and families, Jennifer has held several volunteer roles with LLS, including serving as an Hono...

If you are a blood cancer patient, survivor, caregiver in the United States, or know someone who is, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) needs your help with a research initiative aimed at learning more about COVID-19 and blood cancer patients. We invite patients and survivors to sign up for The LLS National Patient Registry to help shape discoveries that can improve the quality of life and care for people living with blood cancers. About the Registry The LLS National Patient R...

Sharon Cohan, LCSW and Information Specialist for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, states, “One of the biggest myths is that everyone diagnosed with cancer will be diagnosed with depression. Only 15-25% of cancer patients get diagnosed with depression. Everyone will have a period of adjustment with some depression and anxiety which usually improves with time and education.”-from Choosing Therapy article Cancer & Depression: Connection, Risks & Treatment. LLS Informatio...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the CAR T-cell treatment axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) for patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) that has returned or worsened despite earlier treatment. FL is the most common slow-growing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and while the disease can generally be managed, reoccurrence is common. LLS was among the first to invest in CAR T in the 1990’s. Today, the therapy has rapidly become a mainstay of cancer care. LLS supported cl...

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is celebrating women scientists, physicians, philanthropic leaders, social workers, nurses, staff, and supporters at the front lines of the fight against blood cancer. From bolstering the early careers of researchers to helping scientists accelerate their discoveries from the lab to clinical trials, LLS is dedicated to supporting and recognizing women in science and all those who are advancing our mi...

The American Public Health Association (APHA) Pharmacy Section has provided the following guidance for individuals receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmacies. Always check with your physician prior to getting any vaccinations. You can learn more HERE.

I am a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor. It took me 7 months to build up the courage to share my story. But if my story inspires even just one other patient like myself, I’d be more than grateful. I was 21 and had just graduated a year early from Florida State University with my Finance degree. I moved to Miami to start my dream career in commercial real estate investment finance. I was seemingly on top of the world before tragedy struck. After noticing a small painless bump on my collar bo...

For the final installment of this series focusing on myeloma research, we will review advances in immunotherapies for myeloma. The most exciting current experimental therapies and trials in MM focus on immunotherapies: novel monospecific antibodies (such as isatuximab), bispecific antibodies (BiTEs), drugs that are linked to antibodies (ADCs) and CAR-T! CAR-T therapy involves genetically engineering the patient’s own T-cells to recognize and kill the patient’s tumor cells. This therap...

Rye Brook, N.Y. (February 26, 2021) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of melphalan flufenamide, also known as melflufen (Pepaxto), in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma whose disease has returned or worsened following prior treatment with four different classes of drugs. Today’s approval of melflufen was based on results from HORIZON, a pivotal phase 2 study. Melflufen demonstrated a 23.7% overall respon...