A JAK inhibitor for CRS and ICANS prevention; ChAdOx1-platelet interactions and post-vaccination arterial thrombosis; lineage switch, an emerging mechanism of leukemia relapse

In this week's episode, we'll learn about a JAK inhibitor to prevent complications of CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy. In a phase 2 study, itacitinib was well tolerated and demonstrated promising reductions in the incidence of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. After that: investigators report direct interactions between ChAdOx1 and platelets under arterial shear conditions. Investigators say it’s a novel biophysical mechanism that potentially contributes to post-vaccination arterial thrombosis. Finally, we explore lineage switch, an emerging form of acute leukemia relapse with dismal outcomes. It arises rapidly following antigen-targeted immunotherapy, highlighting the importance of advanced methods for detection and treatment.

Featured Articles: 

• Itacitinib for the prevention of IEC therapy–associated CRS: results from the 2-part phase 2 INCB 39110-211 study
• Shear-dependent platelet aggregation by ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine: a novel biophysical mechanism for arterial thrombosis
• Project EVOLVE: an international analysis of postimmunotherapy lineage switch, an emergent form of relapse in leukemia