Anti-malaria benefit of hydroxyurea in SCA, IL-22 in the treatment in lower GI acute GVHD, and FLT3-ITD changes depend on context in AML

In this week’s episode we will review a study in sub-Saharan Africa where treatment of sickle cell anemia with hydroxyurea is associated with a lower incidence of malaria. New research suggests mild myelosuppression associated with hydroxyurea treatment may actually have a salutary effect. Next, a potential new treatment approach in lower GI acute GVHD. Adding an interleukin-22 therapy to corticosteroid treatment was well tolerated with a high rate of response in this very challenging patient population. Finally, common AML driver mutations such as FLT3ITD (or internal tandem duplications) orchestrate distinct transcriptional and epigenetic programs based on different genetic contexts. In the context of a common pediatric AML mutation, FLT3ITD selectively activated type I interferon signaling, suggesting a distinct therapeutic vulnerability.