Top in hem/onc: Highlights from hematology, breast cancer meetings

The top five stories in hematology/oncology last week were based on virtual presentations from the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Three of the top articles were about COVID-19, including a conversation between ASH President Stephanie J. Lee, MD, MPH, and Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Another story was about current research on pregnancy outcomes among breast cancer survivors.

Read these and more top stories in hematology/oncology below:

Fauci: COVID-19 can be crushed, ‘but it’s not going to happen in a few months’

Despite promising data that have emerged on COVID-19 vaccine candidates, a return to normal “carefree” life is likely years out, according to Fauci. Read more.

Research links rare, pathogenic variants with COVID-19 severity

Researchers have found certain rare and pathogenic thrombotic microangiopathy-associated variants among patients with severe COVID-19, according to study results presented at the virtual ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. Read more.

Novel T-cell therapy shows promise to treat COVID-19 in high-risk patients

An off-the-shelf, virus-specific T-cell therapy demonstrated proof of concept to enter a clinical trial for the treatment of severe COVID-19 infection, according to study results. Read more.

Pregnancy after breast cancer ‘should not be discouraged’

Breast cancer survivors of childbearing age appeared to be considerably less likely than women in the general population to become pregnant, according to research presented at the virtual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Read more.

Symptoms often underrecognized among patients receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer

Symptoms such as pain, fatigue and pruritus often went underrecognized among patients with breast cancer who were treated with radiotherapy, data show. Read more.