Education Spotlight Sessions

Balancing Bleeding and Clotting: Extended VTE Treatment for Whom and at What Dose?

Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals with cancer. Prior studies have focused on the acute treatment of VTE and several modalities of treatment including low-molecular-weight heparins and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been intensively studied. These studies have typically addressed acute treatment periods up to six months after diagnosis of VTE. As long-term survivorship in the cancer community increases, clinicians need to better understand the treatment of VTE in the extended phase - after the initial 3-6 month period of anticoagulation. This vexing issue is addressed by several new studies, including randomized trials. This session will focus on providing clinically usable information on optimal anticoagulation strategies for treatment of VTE in the extended period after diagnosis. 

Dr. Marc Rodger will address the important issue of evidence-based determination regarding the need for continuing anticoagulation. Validated prognostic tools and approaches to identify 1) low VTE risk patients who can safely stop anticoagulants and 2) high bleeding risk patients who should stop anticoagulants will be reviewed.  He will address subgroups of the cancer population such as those with distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or isolated sub-segmental pulmonary embolism (PE) who have low risk of recurrent VTE and could potentially safely stop anticoagulation. He will also discuss clinical strategies on how to conduct an absolute risk-informed, preferences- and values-based discussion highlighting absolute long-term risks of recurrent VTE (and fatal PE) on/off anticoagulants and absolute long-term risks of major bleeding (and fatal bleeding) on and off anticoagulants.

Dr. Isabelle Mahe will address dose reduction strategies in extended treatment of cancer-associated VTE. She will review and discuss randomized trial-based evidence on the selection of patients for dose-reduced DOAC therapy, including impact on recurrent VTE and risk of major bleeding. She will discuss various clinical scenarios in the setting of long-term VTE treatment in individuals with cancer and nuanced, complex approaches to decision-making in this setting.

Chair:

Alok Khorana, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Speakers:

Marc Rodger Jr, MD, MSc
McGill University
Montreal, QC, Canada
VTE: Who Should Continue Anticoagulants Long-Term?

Isabelle Mahe, MD, PhD
Paris Cité University, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris
Paris, France
Anticoagulant Dose Reduction (who, how, and when)?

Bispecific Antibodies vs CAR T in Lymphoid Malignancies

Bispecific antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR-T) are rapidly changing the treatment Paradigm of Relapse/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM). With the recent approvals of these treatment options in earlier lines, choosing the right patient for each therapy might be challenging. Likewise, bispecific antibodies and CAR-T therapy have both transformed the management of lymphoma, with multiple agents approved across different histologic subtypes.  Nonetheless, many unanswered questions remain about sequencing, optimal patient and/or product selection. We will discuss 4 cases (2 MM and 2 lymphoma) that highlight some of the challenges of real-world decision-making in this space.

Chair:

Yvonne Efebera, MD
OhioHealth
Columbus, OH

Speakers:

Eden Biltibo, MD, MS
Vanderbilt Health
Nashville, TN
In favor of Bispecific Antibody Therapy: Myeloma Perspective

Matthew Mei I, MD
City of Hope
Duarte, CA
In favor of Bispecific Antibody Therapy: Lymphoma Perspective

Current Perspectives on Evolving Classification of Myeloid and Lymphoid Neoplasms

The Society for Hematopathology (SH) and the European Association for Haematopathology (EA4HP) convened the Classification Advancement Meeting (CAM) for hematopoietic neoplasms in March 2026 in Chicago. The CAM is a joint effort between former members of the World Health Organization (WHO) 5th edition Classification and the International Consensus Classification (ICC) of hematopoietic neoplasms.

The goal of the CAM was to bring together expert hematopathologists, clinicians, and geneticists from around the world to discuss current issues and controversies in the classification of hematologic malignancies and to propose potential advancements to inform the forthcoming 6th edition of the WHO Classification of haematolymphoid tumours. The primary output of the CAM will be a series of peer-reviewed journal articles.

The presentations in this ASH Education Spotlight session reflect the areas of development and controversies from the personal perspectives of the invited speakers, based on discussions held during the CAM. These talks do not represent official conclusions or final recommendations of the CAM. As a field, we look forward to the final publication of these manuscripts and to the official 6th edition of the WHO classification in due course.

In this session, Dr. Amy DeZern will provide a clinical perspective and introduce the speakers. Dr. Laurence de Leval will share lymphoid perspectives, and Dr. Sanam Loghavi will share myeloid perspectives.

Chair:

Amy DeZern, MD, MHS
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, MD

Speakers:

Sanam Loghavi, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Myeloid Updates

Laurence de Leval, MD, PhD
Lausanne University Hospital and Lausanne University
Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Lymphoid Updates

Public Health & Hematology: Results and Lessons from the PEN-Plus Model of Care for Severe, Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases like Sickle Cell Disease in Resource-Poor Areas

Chair:

Julie Makani, MD, PhD, FRCP
Muhimbili University
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Speakers:

Emily Wroe, MD
Center for Integration Science, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, MA
Introduction to the PEN-Plus SCD Model of Care and Outcomes From the First Years of Implementation

Jane Hankins, MD, MS
St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Integrating Newborn Screening for SCD by CONSA, St Jude's Global Hematology and Ministries of Health into PEN-Plus in LMICs and Rural Settings

Rebooting the Immune System with Cellular Therapies

Chair:

Natalie Wuliji, DO
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, WA

Speakers:

Natalie Wuliji, DO
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, WA
Defining Immune Reset: Mechanisms, Immune Reconstitution, and Biomarkers from Auto-HCT and CAR T-cell Therapy

George Georges, MD
Cellular Therapies for Severe Autoimmune Disease: From Case Series to Multicenter Trials and Hematologic Applications

Splenectomy in Membrane Disorders and Enzymopathies: Who, When and How?

Chair:

Melissa Rose, DO
Nationwide Children's
Columbus, OH, 

Speakers:

Scott Alan Peslak I, MD, PhD
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Philadelphia, PA, 
Indications and Timing of Splenectomy in Hereditary Hemolytic Anemia

Lawrence Wolfe
Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra
Hempstead, NY
Techniques for Splenectomy and Partial Splenectomy and Peri-splenectomy care