Last month (February 2026), top-tier journals in the field of hematology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation published several major, practice-changing trials and long-term follow-up data.
To save you time, we have carefully curated 10 articles with the most "clinical decision-making impact," covering guidelines for multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, and transplant care. We hope these provide new insights for your rounds and research this week!
[Multiple Myeloma]1. Teclistamab plus Daratumumab in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (Teclistamab combined with Daratumumab for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma)
Journal: The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
Key Summary: The Phase 3 MajesTEC-3 trial demonstrates that the combination of Teclistamab and Daratumumab significantly reduces the risk of disease progression (HR 0.17) compared to the standard control group, leading to a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and achieving a high rate of MRD negativity. However, the incidence of serious adverse events is relatively high, necessitating enhanced management of infections and toxicities in clinical practice.
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2514663
Journal: The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) Key Summary: The Phase 3 MajesTEC-3 trial demonstrates that the combination of Teclistamab and Daratumumab significantly reduces the risk of disease progression (HR 0.17) compared to the standard control group, leading to a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and achieving a high rate of MRD negativity. However, the incidence of serious adverse events is relatively high, necessitating enhanced management of infections and toxicities in clinical practice. Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa25146632. Phase II Study of BCMA CAR-T in NDMM Ineligible for/Not Proceeding to ASCT (CAREMM-001) (Phase II study of BCMA CAR-T therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients ineligible for or not proceeding to autologous stem cell transplantation)
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO)
Key Summary: This single-arm trial moves CAR-T therapy to the frontline setting, achieving a remarkable 100% MRD (10^-5) negativity rate at 3 months post-infusion. This offers a compelling new first-line treatment strategy for elderly or frail patients who may not be able to tolerate multi-line therapies.
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-01969
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) Key Summary: This single-arm trial moves CAR-T therapy to the frontline setting, achieving a remarkable 100% MRD (10^-5) negativity rate at 3 months post-infusion. This offers a compelling new first-line treatment strategy for elderly or frail patients who may not be able to tolerate multi-line therapies. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-01969 [Acute Leukemia and Transplant Care: AML, ALL & HSCT]3. A phase 1/2 study of donor-derived anti-CD33 CAR T (VCAR33) for R/R AML after allo-HCT (Phase 1/2 study of donor-derived anti-CD33 CAR-T for relapsed/refractory AML after allogeneic transplantation)
Journal: Blood
Key Summary: For the extremely refractory setting of post-allogeneic transplant relapse, donor-derived CD33 CAR-T therapy has demonstrated preliminary feasibility and acceptable safety (low incidence of severe CRS). This paves the way for the further development of cellular therapies for post-transplant AML relapse.
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2025031053
Journal: Blood Key Summary: For the extremely refractory setting of post-allogeneic transplant relapse, donor-derived CD33 CAR-T therapy has demonstrated preliminary feasibility and acceptable safety (low incidence of severe CRS). This paves the way for the further development of cellular therapies for post-transplant AML relapse. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.20250310534. Randomized Noninferiority Trial: Liberalized Diet vs Neutropenic Diet in HSCT & Acute Leukemia (Randomized Noninferiority Trial: Liberalized Diet vs. Neutropenic Diet in Patients with HSCT and Acute Leukemia)
Journal Published: Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO)
Key Summary: This study directly answers one of the most common questions in the ward! The trial was terminated early because the rate of major infections in the "liberalized diet" group exceeded the safety threshold, confirming that a completely liberalized diet is not feasible. This provides an evidence-based foundation that can be immediately applied to daily nursing care and patient education in transplant and leukemia wards.
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-00889
Journal Published: Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) Key Summary: This study directly answers one of the most common questions in the ward! The trial was terminated early because the rate of major infections in the "liberalized diet" group exceeded the safety threshold, confirming that a completely liberalized diet is not feasible. This provides an evidence-based foundation that can be immediately applied to daily nursing care and patient education in transplant and leukemia wards. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-008895. Development of a prognostic scoring system for chronic myeloid leukemia in blast phase (Establishment of a prognostic scoring system for blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia)
Journal: Leukemia
Key Summary: There has long been a lack of consistent assessment tools for the blast phase of CML. This study established a prognostic stratification model that can be applied at the onset of the blast phase, which is expected to significantly improve the accuracy of clinical risk communication and future cross-trial comparisons.
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-026-02875-9
Journal: Leukemia Key Summary: There has long been a lack of consistent assessment tools for the blast phase of CML. This study established a prognostic stratification model that can be applied at the onset of the blast phase, which is expected to significantly improve the accuracy of clinical risk communication and future cross-trial comparisons. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-026-02875-9 [Lymphoma]6. Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma With CHOP and Anti-CD20 Therapy: 15-Year Follow-Up of SWOG S0016 (Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma with CHOP and Anti-CD20 Therapy: 15-Year Follow-Up of the SWOG S0016 Trial)
Journal: JAMA Oncology
Key Summary: Strongly challenges the traditional dogma that follicular lymphoma (FL) is "incurable"! 15-year long-term follow-up estimates that approximately 42% of patients can achieve a "functional cure." This will directly change how we explain the prognosis and set long-term follow-up goals for patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma.
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.0042
Journal: JAMA Oncology Key Summary: Strongly challenges the traditional dogma that follicular lymphoma (FL) is "incurable"! 15-year long-term follow-up estimates that approximately 42% of patients can achieve a "functional cure." This will directly change how we explain the prognosis and set long-term follow-up goals for patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.00427. Phased Variant-Supported ctDNA (PV-MRD) after first-line in LBCL (DIRECT Study) (Post-first-line treatment for Large B-cell Lymphoma: ctDNA as a tool for prognosis and response assessment)
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO)
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) Key Summary: The DIRECT study confirms that ctDNA (PV-MRD) status at the end of first-line therapy provides independent prognostic information beyond traditional imaging (PET-CT), assisting in the precise identification of patients who require treatment escalation or are suitable for de-escalation therapy. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-25-015878. BrECADD vs BEACOPP and Health-Related Quality of Life in Advanced-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma (Health-Related Quality of Life Analysis of BrECADD vs. BEACOPP in Advanced-Stage Hodgkin Lymphoma)
Journal: JAMA Oncology
Key Summary: In an era where Hodgkin lymphoma treatment is highly effective, the burden of toxicity is a key factor in decision-making. This study, based on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) from the HD21 trial, clearly demonstrates the impact of different high-intensity regimens on quality of life, serving as an excellent resource for shared decision-making (SDM).
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.6327
Journal: JAMA Oncology Key Summary: In an era where Hodgkin lymphoma treatment is highly effective, the burden of toxicity is a key factor in decision-making. This study, based on patient-reported outcomes (PRO) from the HD21 trial, clearly demonstrates the impact of different high-intensity regimens on quality of life, serving as an excellent resource for shared decision-making (SDM). Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.63279. A Randomized Phase 2 Study of Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, and Brentuximab Vedotin in Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma (Relapsed Hodgkin Lymphoma: Phase 2 Randomized Trial of BV+Nivo+Ipi vs. BV+Nivo)
Journal: Blood
Key Takeaways: The results indicate that the triple-therapy strategy incorporating Ipilimumab did not improve the complete remission (CR) rate and, conversely, increased toxicities such as skin rash. This serves as a clinical reminder that patients should not be subjected to additional toxicity risks in pursuit of more complex immunotherapy combinations.
Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2025029546
Journal: Blood Key Takeaways: The results indicate that the triple-therapy strategy incorporating Ipilimumab did not improve the complete remission (CR) rate and, conversely, increased toxicities such as skin rash. This serves as a clinical reminder that patients should not be subjected to additional toxicity risks in pursuit of more complex immunotherapy combinations. Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.202502954610. Penpulimab + Rituximab/HD-MTX/Cytarabine (Pen-RMA) in Newly Diagnosed PCNSL (Newly Diagnosed Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Phase II Trial of PD-1 Inclusion in R-MA Regimen)
Journal Published: Blood Cancer Journal
Key Summary: The combination of a PD-1 inhibitor with standard chemoimmunotherapy (R-MA) has demonstrated excellent disease control rates in ND-PCNSL. Although the sample size is small, it points to a highly promising new pathway for long-term control strategies in central nervous system lymphoma.
Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-026-01450-w
Journal Published: Blood Cancer Journal Key Summary: The combination of a PD-1 inhibitor with standard chemoimmunotherapy (R-MA) has demonstrated excellent disease control rates in ND-PCNSL. Although the sample size is small, it points to a highly promising new pathway for long-term control strategies in central nervous system lymphoma. Paper Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-026-01450-w
Editor's Note: From frontline CAR-T exploration in myeloma and the establishment of 15-year prognosis for follicular lymphoma, to the strict regulations of low-microbial diets in daily ward care, this month's literature is truly fascinating! We hope this is helpful for everyone's clinical practice!