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Dr Zane Kaplan discusses his
top sessions fromHAA 2016
Zane Kaplan, MD, is Specialist Haematologist at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.
HAA 2016 was a fantastic meeting with a
good variety of speakers and sessions, from
malignancy to basic science to molecular
pathogenesis. And it was good to see hae-
moglobinopathies given a presence at this
meeting.
Abstract 055. Alpha thalassaemia and Hb E/
Beta thalassaemia-clinical course and disease
modifiers.
V Viprakasit
Abstract 056. Global strategies for sickle cell
disease.
R Ware
The haemoglobinopathies sessions were fan-
tastic and featured a couple of international
experts. Vip Viprakasit from Thailand is a
thalassaemia expert and Russell Ware is an
expert in sickle cell anaemia, so it was very
useful to hear from them and their advice
on managing patients with thalassaemia and
sickle cell anaemia. The take-home message
for me from these sessions is that hydroxy-
urea is underutilised in patients with sickle
cell disease. Hydroxyurea is, in essence, a
very cheap and effective therapy.
Abstract 020. Biology of multiple myeloma:
Genetics and epigenetics.
A Spencer
Abstract 021. Optimal treatment in de novo and
first relapse myeloma.
T Facon
Andrew Spencer’s talk on myeloma was very
good, providing insights into the molecular
pathogenesis of the disease. This was well
followed by Thierry Facon who gave an over-
view of the management of de novo and first
relapse myeloma. While there were nothing
specifically practice-changing in terms of
what was presented, they were good in
terms of providing an overview and insights
into the molecular pathogenesis of multiple
myeloma.
Abstract 097. Valves thrombosis.
J Weitz
One of the key take-home messages from
Jeffrey Weitz’s session was that some physi-
cians are inappropriately reducing the dose
of oral anticoagulants when they probably
shouldn’t, and as a result patients are being
under-treated and under-dosed.
lymphomas, AML appears particularly susceptible to Bcl-2 inhibition,
and his group is doing some promising early work in elderly patients
with AML combining venetoclax with demethylating agents or low-
dose chemotherapy. Results of this study will be also be presented
at ASH. Venetoclax is one of the hottest and most promising drugs
in haematology, and WEHI and Royal Melbourne Hospital/Peter
MacCallum Cancer Centre have done a lot of preclinical and early
clinical studies with it.
Abstract 050.
Single hit lymphoma.
J Shortt
Abstract 051.
Ann Arbor staging vs. total metabolic tumour volume. Time
for a change?
J Trotman
Abstract 052.
Hodgkin lymphoma gone bad.
M Hertzberg
Jake Shortt gave a nice overview of the biology of diffuse large B-cell
lymphoma, particularly looking at the ‘double hit’ and ‘single hit’ lym-
phomas and the biology behind why certain things don’t work and
what potential medications might be used to target the biological
differences in various diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.
Judith Trotman spoke on PET scanning and the change in the way we
stage; whether we need to move away from the Ann Arbor system to
using PET total metabolic tumour volume, which may be a better pre-
dictor for prognosis. Mark Hertzberg spoke about relapsed/refractory
Hodgkin lymphoma and the options available, including brentuximab
and the PD-1 inhibitors.
Abstract 135.
Obstetric DIC.
C McLintock
Claire McLintock gave a practical overview of thrombocytopenia
and pregnancy, and the problems and pitfalls in pregnant women
with low platelets. She highlighted the fact that we should treat the
patient and not the number of platelets, which was the big take-home
message for me.
Abstract 022.
The myeloproliferative neoplasms – JAK/STAT signalling
and stem cell subversion.
T Green
Abstract 023.
Clinical relevance of leukemia stem cells in AML.
J Dick
Tony Green gave a great talk on JAK/STAT signalling pathways in myelo-
proliferative neoplasms, while John Dick’s talk was on the basic science
of leukaemia and AML but nevertheless relevant. It was somewhat
sobering when he pointed out that it’s so hard to choose drugs that are
going to be able to treat all the various mutations and problems that
the AML can produce. Someone asked at the end of his talk, “Given
all that, do you think it’s surprising that we can cure anyone?!”
© HAA 2016
ClaireMcLintock highlighted the fact
that we should treat the patient and
not the number of patients, whichwas
the big take-homemessage for me.
HAA 2016
31
DECEMBER 2016