This session which took place on November 25th 2024, brought together leading experts and a patient who has experienced CAR-T therapy to provide a comprehensive look at emerging therapies for FL, including CAR-T, bispecific antibodies, BTK inhibitors, and more.
Open to everyone, the webinar was particularly beneficial for patients, families, and caregivers. It catered to those wondering what to look out for if their FL returns, facing the challenges of a relapse, and aiming to empower their patient journey while making tough decisions.
Webinar series:
This webinar is part of the FLF’s ongoing series, with webinars held every other month. To learn more about our upcoming webinars, click here, and register your interest today to stay informed about these engaging and informative events.
Key highlights:
Gain a deeper understanding of how these innovative treatments are transforming the FL landscape and hear first-hand how they can impact quality of life and prognosis. Our panel of experts also explores the challenges surrounding side effects, accessing these treatments, and the future of personalized medicine in FL care. To learn the basic background about these treatments, please visit our webpage on immunotherapy.
[Disclaimer: This video is intended for educational and disease awareness purposes only and the information presented and discussed does not constitute medical advice.]
Dr Mitchell Smith – Chief Medical Officer, Follicular Lymphoma Foundation
Dr Mitchell Smith has an extensive educational background, having earned his Medical Degree and PhD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. He has also completed several residencies and fellowships, including a Fellowship in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in NY. Dr Smith’s career has also spanned many years and institutions, including serving as Director of the Lymphoma Program at Fox Chase Cancer Centre and Director of the Lymphoid Malignancy Program at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr Jeremy Abramson – Director, Jon and Jo Ann Hagler Center for Lymphoma, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Abramson is Director of the Lymphoma Program and the Jon and Jo Ann Hagler Chair in Lymphoma at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Abramson earned his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a Masters Degree in Medical Sciences from Harvard Medical School. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, followed by a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dr. Abramson’s clinical and research interests are in non-Hodgkin lymphomas, Hodgkin lymphoma, and CLL. His research involves identifying new targets for therapy in lymphomas and lymphoid leukemias, and the design and conduct of clinical trials of new cancer therapies in these diseases.
Ken Karnes – Patient Advocate
Ken’s journey with FL began in 2017 after a persistent cough, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash led to a biopsy, confirming the diagnosis. He underwent six months of treatment with Rituxin and Bendamustin, but the FL returned more aggressively within four months. Seeking advanced care, Ken left Connecticut for Boston, where, after another round of treatment failed, he was offered a spot in a CAR-T therapy clinical trial. Although it was a tough decision, Ken underwent CAR-T therapy in July 2019, and it successfully put him into remission. Now cancer-free for five years, with the treatment FDA-approved, Ken shares his story in the hope it can offer some comfort for others who are going through their own journey.
This webinar series is supported by an educational grant from Genmab US, Inc and AbbVie and sponsorship from BeiGene USA, Inc., Novartis and Kite Gilead. All of the above have had no influence on, control of, nor input into the development or performance of the webinar series.
