Lukasz Rokicki: We are consistently moving toward world standards in the treatment of hematooncology patients

"At the annual convention of the American Society of Hematology, the latest reports from the world of modern hematology are presented. Especially in medical fields where progress is so rapid, access to up-to-date and reliable information is crucial. We are happy that, as the CARITA Foundation, we were able to participate in this year's - the 65th congress of the American Society of Hematologists, which was held in San Diego from December 7-10. "Time to say goodbye, myeloma!" - a phrase uttered by Rafat Abonour, MD, Indiana University Health, will certainly stay with us for a long time, because it shows how much progress has been made in the treatment of plasmocytic myeloma over the years, but also - that we need to consistently improve the chances of Polish hemato-oncology patients to receive care and treatment in line with global standards.

Attendance at ASH is a distinction for us, and above all a chance to gather knowledge about the results of the latest research in hematology and to strengthen relationships with patient organizations operating at the international level. It was also dozens of conversations with prominent hematologists from Poland and around the world, who were just as eager to share with the charges of the CARITA Foundation and other hematology organizations the reports important to patients at the European Hematology Patient Forum, which took place on December 16 and 17 in Warsaw.

During the Forum, together with authorities in hematology - Prof. Ewa Lech-Marańda, Prof. Lidia Gil, Prof. Dominik Dytfeld and many other experts - we had a unique opportunity to discuss the future of hematology. Current reports from the American Society of Hematology and treatment directions for plasmocytic myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma were presented by Prof. Krzysztof Giannopoulos. It should be noted that for many years, information about innovative solutions used in the treatment of hematology patients, was only a source of frustration in Poland. Today, observing that more and more Polish patients can be the beneficiaries of these solutions is a source of hope and a litmus test of how far Poland is following global standards. Professor Giannopoulos, during Saturday's lecture, pointed out that: "This year's congress of the American Society of Hematology was groundbreaking because it showed us the therapies of the future. Today, we are pushing the boundaries of imagination to make appropriate use of our body's immune resources. Such therapies include CAR-NK using natural killer (NK) lymphocytes that have been modified to express anti-CD19 CAR, and trispecific antibodies are entering their first clinical trials."

During the two days, we talked with experts about promising treatments for hematological diseases, laboratory tests, clinical trials, and introduced patients to issues that can make their daily life with cancer easier. Among the topics discussed were the Morphology Calculator for Hematology Patients, patient-doctor communication, chronic disease and professional work, pain management, e-health or physiotherapy.

What fills us with great hope, however, is the noticeable improvement in Polish patients' access to modern drugs in hematology. In the past year - the largest number, as many as 28 covered by reimbursement molecules in oncology concerned precisely therapies for hematological patients. Subsequent lists of reimbursed drugs proved that hematology has joined the ranks of priority children, and our patients' access to effective and hopeful drugs, even from the first line of treatment, is improving. This is confirmed by the latest decisions of the Minister of Health, which will be effective as of January 1, 2024. In the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the reimbursement includes, among others, zanubrutinib in the first-line treatment of patients with PBL and in the treatment of patients with refractory/relapsed PBL, as well as venetoclax and obinutuzumab - in the first-line treatment of patients with PBL. Previously reimbursed therapies such as vedotin polatuzumab for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and vedotin brentuximab for first-line Hodgkin's lymphoma have been moved to first-line treatment. In the treatment of plasmocytic myeloma, on the other hand, the possibility of using - also as early as in the first line of treatment - the daratumumab regimen in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients ineligible for transplantation. 

We believe that moving the standard of care and treatment of patients in Poland towards European, as well as national guidelines, in line with the latest medical knowledge - will continue. Indeed, the past year and the above-mentioned new solutions for oncology patients have shown that much can
be achieved in this regard."

Source: press mat.