News & Updates

First-line immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in metastatic biliary tract cancer

A 69-year-old female who enjoyed good past health presented with a 3-month history of right-sided abdominal discomfort in December 2022.

Targeting PV source with ropeginterferon alfa-2b revolutionizes treatment

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by overproduction of red blood cells, which poses a significant risk of thrombohaemorrhagic complications and impaired survival. Traditionally, treatment approaches have focused on managing the symptoms and reducing haematocrit levels, but these do not address the underlying cause of the disease.

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (BESREMi, PharmaEssentia), an innovative monopegylated long-acting interferon, offers a novel approach by directly targeting and depleting JAK2-mutated hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow, which is the source of the disease. This article focuses on the role of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in transforming the treatment landscape for PV, its mechanisms, clinical benefits, and potential to significantly improve patient outcomes.

Targeted therapy in the management of metastatic BRAF V600–mutant melanoma: A case study

Professor Roger Ngan, a specialist in clinical oncology, provides insights into the treatment landscape of melanoma and his considerations when managing a patient with metastatic BRAF V600–mutant melanoma.

Optimizing patient survival outcomes in refractory mCRC

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is one of the most malignant diseases with a poor prognosis. In an interview with MIMS Oncology, Dr Ingrid Karmane Sumou, a medical oncologist in Macau, shared several patient cases and discussed treatment strategies, including the use of regorafenib, to improve survival outcomes and provided tips on managing regorafenib-related adverse effects.

Targeting IL-5 in hypereosinophilic diseases: From bench to bedside

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare eosinophilic autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs. The lack of disease awareness and heterogeneous nature of clinical manifestations have made diagnosis and management of EGPA challenging. At Advances in Medicine (AIM) 2024, Professor Hiromichi Tamaki, a rheumatologist from St. Luke’s International Hospital in Japan, discussed how EGPA is diagnosed, presented real-world evidence on mepolizumab (an anti–interleukin [IL]-5 therapy) in EGPA and illustrated mepolizumab’s clinical benefits through several patient cases.

Anti-TSLP treatment may extend care to a broad range of severe asthma patients

Inhibition of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a crucial epithelial cytokine with broad effects on airway inflammation, has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for severe asthma. At an industry-sponsored symposium during Autumn Respiratory Seminar (ARS) 2023 jointly organized by the Hong Kong Thoracic Society and the CHEST Delegation Hong Kong and Macau, Dr Hassan Burhan of the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK, discussed the role of epithelial cytokines in inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and reviewed the clinical evidence supporting the use of tezepelumab, an anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody (mAb), among patients with severe asthma of diverse phenotypes. He also shared a case illustrating tezepelumab use in severe uncontrolled asthma (SUA).

Second-line treatment with an erythroid maturation agent in a patient with transfusion-dependent anaemia due to LR-MDS with ring sideroblasts

A 72-year-old male presented with symptomatic anaemia in July 2022. Initial peripheral blood examination revealed haemoglobin (Hb) level of 6 g/ dL, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 90 fL, white blood cell (WBC) count of 7.85 x 10⁹/L, and platelet count of 93 x 10⁹/L. His butyrate and folate levels, liver enzyme levels, and clotting profile were normal. His baseline erythropoietin (EPO) level was >500 U/L. There were no drug- or organ-related causes that could account for the anaemia. His past health was unremarkable apart from a history of chronic drinking.

Migraine diagnosis in primary care: How?

Optimal management of migraine requires prompt diagnosis in the primary care setting. This article highlights recommendations on migraine diagnosis endorsed by the European Headache Federation (EHF) and European Academy of Neurology (EAN), which are applicable to settings including primary care.

Early diagnosis and management of AL amyloidosis: An underdiagnosed multiorgan disease

Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis is a progressive, underdiagnosed disease with multiorgan involvement, most notably of the heart, kidneys, and liver. Nearly half of the patients consult ≥4 physicians before receiving correct diagnosis. At the Hong Kong Society of Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting (HKSH ASM) 2024, Professor Morie Gertz of the Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, US, shared insights into establishing an early and accurate diagnosis and discussed the ANDROMEDA trial, which led to the first US FDA–approved treatment – daratumumab in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone (D-VCd).