8:15 a.m.

Treatment Strategies for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: From Adolescents to Adults, Michael Verneris, MD, Children's Hospital Colorado

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a disease that affects infants, children, adolescents and adult patients. Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with ALL pose unique challenges and issues beyond those faced by adults. This session will discuss therapies used to treat ALL in both AYAs and adults and highlight treatment strategies for both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory ALL in AYA and adult populations.

Learning objectives:

• Discuss treatment strategies for both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory ALL in the AYA and adult populations.
• Describe new and emerging therapies used to treat ALL in both AYAs and adults.
• Recognize the importance of an effective partnership among patients, family members and the interprofessional team in managing ALL.

9:00 a.m.

Improving Safety of Allotransplantation: Current and Emerging Strategies for the Prevention of Graft-versus-Host Disease, Nandita Khera, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) represents the most serious and challenging complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). This session will discuss its pathophysiology, assessment of patient risk for GvHD, diagnostic challenges, management recommendations, prevention and emerging therapeutic treatment options.

Learning objectives:

• Explain the pathophysiology of GvHD.
• Discuss current best clinical practices to manage GvHD and prophylactic treatment regimens for GvHD.
• Identify treatment-related risks associated with GvHD treatment strategies.

10:45 a.m.

New Insights into Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy, Kara Davis, DO, The Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital

Early outcomes from CAR T-cell trials have generated impressive results in patients with blood cancers. Clinical trials of CAR T-cell therapy have involved pediatric and adult patients with blood-based cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma. Pipeline therapeutics are in early stages of development. This session will discuss the latest advances in CAR T-cell therapies and promising pipeline therapeutics.

Learning objectives:

• Discuss the latest advances in CAR T-cell therapies.
• Identify and discuss the management of toxicities of CAR T-cell therapies.
• Explore what’s new in the therapeutic pipeline.

11:45 a.m.

Infectious Disease in Blood/Marrow Transplantation, Sanjeet S. Dadwal, MD, FACP, City of Hope

Certain factors place individuals undergoing a blood/marrow transplant (BMT) at increased risk for infections. Despite recent advances in supportive care, growth factors, more-potent antimicrobials, prophylaxis strategies, and new diagnostic techniques, infections remain the major causes of mortality in individuals who undergo a BMT. 

Learning objectives:

• List the common opportunistic infections among BMT recipients and review the guidelines for preventing these infections.
• Identify complications associated with infectious diseases in BMT.

1:15 p.m.

The Impact of Timely Referrals for Blood/Marrow Transplantation on Patient Outcomes and Transplant Success, Linda J. Burns, MD, National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match

Studies on blood/marrow transplantation (BMT) have revealed that transplant success can be highly dependent upon transplant timing. Early referral is a critical factor for optimal transplant outcomes. This session will discuss referral timing guidelines and highlight disease categories that include patients at risk for disease progression. The impact of timely referrals on the outcomes and success of BMT will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

• Highlight referral timing guidelines that identify disease categories that include patients at risk for disease progression.
• Discuss how disease stage at the time of transplant, as well as appropriate planning and early donor identification, can have significant impacts on patient survival.

2:15 p.m.

Therapeutic Strategies in the Treatment of Hodgkin Lymphoma, Matthew Lunning, DO, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma is tailored to disease type, disease stage and an assessment of the risk of resistant disease. The current treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma seeks to maximize the risk-benefit ratio of treatment. This session will discuss therapeutic strategies in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma with a focus on tailoring therapy to each patient according to age and his/her risk of short- and long-term toxicity and/or relapse.

Learning objectives:

• Discuss therapeutic strategies in the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Analyze the prognostic factors that can identify patients at risk.