Expert Recommendations on Balancing the Risk and Mitigation Strategies of Veno-occlusive Disease When Treating Adult Relapsed or Refractory B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia with Inotuzumab Ozogamicin ▼

Abstract

This article details interviews conducted by EMJ in January and February 2023 with two key opinion leaders. Emily Curran is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Ohio, USA. Curran specialises in haematology, medical oncology, and internal medicine, with a clinical interest of the care of patients with haematologic malignancies, particularly acute leukaemia. Matthias Stelljes is a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology at the University of Münster, Germany. Stelljes is responsible for the adult allogeneic stem cell transplant programme, and has a clinical focus on optimising treatment strategies for patients with high-risk relapsed or refractory (R/R) haematologic malignancies before and after stem cell transplantation, mainly acute leukaemia. In the interviews, the experts provided their real-world insights and recommendations for therapy management in patients with adult R/R B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), based on their transatlantic experience. They discuss balancing the benefits of treatment with inotuzumab ozogamicin versus the risk of veno-occlusive disease (VOD), otherwise referred to as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and offer strategies for mitigating the risk of VOD/SOS.