Advances in stem cell transplantation from EBMT 2026: managing GvHD, donor selection & evolving clinical strategies

 

In this episode of the podcast, we focus on adverse events (AEs) and toxicities in the post-CAR T-cell therapy setting. First, Marion Subklewe, MD, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany, outlines the main factors contributing to the observed reduction in the incidence of higher-grade CRS and ICANS following CAR-T. Following this, Eleftheria Kampouri, MD, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, shares insight into infection prevention and antibiotic use in febrile patients, and Birte Friedrichs, MD, Düsseldorf University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany, discusses the misconception among physicians that the side effects of CAR-T are too severe for their patients, noting the potential impact of this belief. You will then hear from Megan Melody, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, who shares advice for community physicians monitoring patients for less common toxicities following CAR-T, and Kenneth Lim, MBBS, Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, who highlights AEs that physicians should be aware of when treating patients with multiple myeloma with ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel).

This VJHemOnc episode explores major shifts in frontline mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) care, highlighting the move from traditional chemotherapy to chemo‑free regimens and the growing role of BTK inhibitors. Michael Wang, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, outlines the importance of frontline treatment in achieving long-term disease control. You will also hear from David Lewis, MBChB, PhD, FRCPath, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK, Tycel Phillips, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, and Krish Patel, MD, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, who share perspectives on patient selection for therapy, biological risk factors, and how treatment decisions differ between academic and community settings.

This episode reviews major advances presented at the EBMT 2026 meeting in Madrid, covering novel treatments for acute and chronic GVHD, including a promising microbiome-based therapy, and new targeted agents. Experts discuss the growing importance of donor germline genetics, updated guidance for Hodgkin lymphoma transplantation, the shifting role of CAR T‑cell therapy in non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, and how measurable residual disease (MRD) is shaping transplant decisions and post‑transplant care. Overall, the episode highlights how these developments are improving personalization and outcomes in haemopoietic stem cell transplantation.

This VJHemOnc podcast introduces the first edition of Myeloid Monthly, focusing on key developments in myeloid malignancies. Amer Zeidan, MD, Yale University, New Haven, CT, is joined by Robert Hasserjian, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, and Sanam Loghavi, MD, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, to discuss breaking updates from the Classification Advancement Meeting (CAM), held in Chicago in March 2026. The panel explores the evolving classification of myeloid neoplasms, including the shift from morphology to molecular genetics, key differences between the WHO and ICC systems, and areas of ongoing debate such as MDS, AML, and overlap syndromes. They also discuss the process of harmonising these frameworks, the clinical implications for diagnosis, trial design, and patient care, and how CAM recommendations are expected to inform a future unified WHO classification.

This VJHemOnc podcast explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming hematologic oncology, from clinical research and diagnostics to risk prediction and therapy development. Aaron Gerds, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, discusses AI-driven approaches to improving clinical trial enrollment, while Stephen Ansell, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, highlights advances in AI-based pathology for lymphoma classification. Ciara Freeman, MD, PhD, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, examines multimodal AI for predicting CAR T-cell outcomes, while Zinaida Good, PhD, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and Andrea Schmidts, MD, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany, explore AI applications in CAR T-cell design. Gianluca Asti, MSc, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy, discusses federated learning for data sharing, and Amin Turki, MD, PhD, Ruhr-University Hospital Bochum and University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, highlights challenges in real-world AI implementation.

This VJHemOnc podcast explores the evolving role of measurable residual disease (MRD) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), from prognostic marker to clinical endpoint. Harry Erba, MD, PhD, Duke University, Durham, NC, discusses the potential of MRD as a surrogate endpoint in AML, while Bruno Paiva, PhD, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, presents supporting evidence from large registry analyses. Amin Turki, MD, PhD, Ruhr-University Hospital Bochum and University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, highlights the integration of MRD into risk stratification, while Wendy Stock, MD, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, reviews MRD detection methods, emerging technologies, and practical implementation in ALL.

This VJHemOnc podcast explores the evolving role of BTK inhibitors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Constantine Tam, MBBS (Hons), MD, FRACP, FRCPA, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, discusses long-term SEQUOIA trial (NCT03336333) findings of zanubrutinib in treatment-naïve CLL and extended follow-up from the ALPINE study (NCT03734016) comparing zanubrutinib with ibrutinib in relapsed or refractory disease. Kerry Rogers, MD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, reviews continuous BTK inhibitor therapy and resistance mechanisms, while Romain Guièze, MD, PhD, CHU Clermont Ferrand, Clermont Ferrand, France, discusses the STAIR trial (NCT04963946) evaluating acalabrutinib discontinuation in older, frail patients. Jennifer Woyach, MD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, highlights a Phase I trial (NCT04775745) trial investigating rocbrutinib and Phase III BRUIN-CLL314 trial (NCT05254743) results comparing pirtobrutinib with ibrutinib.

Nurses play a key role in the CAR T-cell therapy process. In this podcast episode, you will hear insights into nursing in CAR-T and cellular therapy through exclusive interviews from the recent EBMT-EHA 8th European CAR T-cell Meeting.    First, Erik Aerts, RN, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, will walk through the CAR T-cell process from a nursing perspective, and Mairéad Ní Chonghaile, RGN, BNS, MSc, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, will emphasize the importance of a true collaborative approach to care in the CAR-T process and discuss how to appropriately address fears or misconceptions patients may have. You will then hear from Thomas Jezequel, MSc, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France, who will comment on the role of social media in a patient’s CAR T-cell therapy journey and share messages for young nurses in the cellular therapy space. Finally, Jemma Stewart, nurse educator, and Ella Weisser, clinical nurse specialist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, will provide insight into the recommended frequency of Immune Effector Cell-Associated Encephalopathy (ICE) assessment in patients receiving CAR-T.

Today’s episode of the VJHemOnc podcast features updates from a number of clinical trials exploring BTK inhibitors (BTKi) and BTKi-containing regimens in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that were presented at the 2025 ASH Annual Meeting.  First, you will hear updates in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) trials from Michael Wang, MD, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Austin Kim, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, and Tycel Phillips, MD, City of Hope, Duarte, CA. Following this, Chan Cheah, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, DMSc, Linear Clinical Research and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia, and Jorge Castillo, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, share BTKi trial updates in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM). Finally, Lorenzo Falchi, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discusses the preliminary results of the MITHIC-FL2 trial (NCT05389293) investigating mosunetuzumab plus zanubrutinib in newly diagnosed high-burden follicular lymphoma (FL), and Jason Westin, MD, FACP, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, presents the primary analysis of the Smart Stop trial (NCT04978584), which evaluated a four-drug combination in newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).