OncLive Poll Results Spotlight Highly Anticipated Hematology Topics Ahead of ESMO 2025

In the lead-up to the 2025 ESMO Congress, there is increasing anticipation around research in several hematologic malignancies that are expected to be featured at the meeting.

To capture insights from the oncology community, OncLive® conducted polls on both X and LinkedIn to identify which hematologic malignancies were of greatest interest to experts attending the congress. When asked which disease areas were garnering the most attention ahead of the meeting, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma emerged as leading topics. Of the 12 total voters on X, the majority selected NHL and multiple myeloma as their most-anticipated research area (33.3% each), followed by myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and T-cell lymphoma (16.7% each).

On LinkedIn, interest was strongest for presentations in multiple myeloma, with 47% of 85 total voters selecting this option. NHL was the next most popular topic (30%), while MPNs and T-cell lymphoma each accounted for 12% of responses.

What are some of the most anticipated abstracts to watch at this year’s meeting?

1240O - CD19/CD22 Bispecific CAR-T Cell Therapy for Relapsed/Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma: A Prospective, Single-arm, Single-center, Phase 2 Clinical Trial

Presentation time: Friday October 17, 2025, 2:00 - 2:10pm CEST

A phase 2, prospective, single-arm, single-center trial (NCT06081478) is investigating a bispecific CAR T-cell product targeting both CD19 and CD22 in patients aged 14 to 85 years with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma or B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia following standard first-line therapy.1 Participants receive a single infusion of the bispecific CAR T-cell therapy, dosed at 2.0 × 10⁶ CD19-positive cells/kg and 1.0 × 10⁶ CD22-positive cells/kg. The study’s primary objective is to assess overall response rate (ORR).

At the 2025 EHA Congress, prior data from this phase 2 trial indicated that the dual-targeting CAR T-cell therapy demonstrated both manageable safety and encouraging efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma.2

1241O - Anti-PD-1-Antibody (Tislelizumab) Combined with Chidamide, Lenalidomide and Etoposide for the treatment of refractory/relapsed Extranodal Natural Killer/T Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type (r/r-ENKTL): Preliminary Results from a Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial

Presentation time: Friday October 17, 2025, 2:30 - 2:40pm CEST

This prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter phase 2 trial (NCT04038411) being conducted in China is evaluating the combination of tislelizumab (Tevimbra), chidamide (tucidinostat; HBI-8000), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and etoposide in patients 14 to 65 years of age with relapsed/refractory natural killer/T-cell lymphoma after at least 2 prior lines of therapy.3 To enroll, patients needed to have an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2, a life expectancy of at least 3 months, and at least 1 measurable lesion.

All patients received tislelizumab at 240 mg on day 1, chidamide at 20mg twice per week, lenalidomide at 25mg per day on days 1 to 14, and etoposide at 100mg/m2 on days 1 to 3 of each 21-day cycle. ORR served as the trial’s primary end point.

1242O - Sustained marrow and imaging MRD negativity can lead to lenalidomide discontinuation following ASCT in multiple myeloma: Updated results from a prospective cohort study

Presentation time: Friday, October 17, 2025, 2:50 - 3:00pm CEST

In a retrospective study conducted in China, researchers evaluated clinicopathological features and PET-CT data from 498 patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).4 The objective was to examine the prognostic relevance of the interim National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index alongside PET-CT–derived parameters, with the aim of improving patient risk stratification and enhancing outcome prediction.

1245MO - Combination of Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride Liposome with Chidamide in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma: Updated Results of the Phase II Study

Presentation time: Sunday, October 19, 2025, 8:54 - 8:59am CEST

Updated findings from the phase 2 portion of a phase 1/2 trial (NCT05527275) investigating mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposome in combination with chidamide in patients with relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) were presented.5 Earlier results from the study indicated that the regimen demonstrated encouraging efficacy and a tolerable safety profile in this setting.

The trial enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years with histologically confirmed PTCL, including non-specific type, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and other PTCL subtypes.6 Eligible patients had relapsed or refractory disease, measurable lesions, and an ECOG performance status of 0 to 2. After completion of the dose-escalation phase, participants in the phase 2 portion received treatment at the recommended phase 2 dose. The primary end point of this portion of the trial was ORR.

References

1. CD19/​CD22 bispecific CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed/​refractory B-cell lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated October 13, 2023. Accessed September 29, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT0608147
2. Liu X, Cong J,Wang L, et al. CD19/CD22 bispecific CAR-T cell therapy for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma: a prospective, single-arm, single-center, phase 2 clinical trial. Presented at: 2025 EHA Congress; June 12-15, 2025; Milan, Italy. Abstract PF1157.
3. PD-1 antibody, chidamide, lenalidomide and etoposide for relapsed or refractory NK/​T cell lymphoma. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated July 30, 2019. Accessed September 29, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04038411
4. Wang J, Sun Y, Lin M, et al. Risk Stratification for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma by Integrating Interim 18F-FDG PET-CT Analysis and the NCCN-IPI: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. Hematol Oncol. 2025;43(4):e70118. doi:10.1002/hon.70118
5. Mitoxantrone hydrochloride liposomes in combination with GDP in relapsed/​refractory PTCL. ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated July 1, 2022. Accessed September 29, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05441761
6. Daver N, Kontro M, Rimpiläinen J, et al. Efficacy of macrophage checkpoint Clever-1 inhibition with bexmarilimab plus azacitidine in myelodysplastic syndrome: Results from the ph1/2 BEXMAB study. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16): 6513. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.6513