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ASCO 2026 Leukemia and Lymphoma Highlights
Highlights in Leukemias and Lymphomas From the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting

Released: July 24, 2026

Matthew S. Davids
Matthew S. Davids, MD, MMSc
Eunice S. Wang
Eunice S. Wang, MD
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Key Takeaways
  • Updated phase III results from the ASC4FIRST study provide additional support for asciminib use as an effective and well-tolerated frontline therapy option for newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP, and the phase III SENTRY study results demonstrated that ruxolitinib plus selinexor significantly reduced spleen volume vs ruxolitinib alone in JAK inhibitor–naive myelofibrosis.
  • In lymphoma, primary results from the phase III frontMIND study demonstrated a progression-free survival (PFS) benefit of frontline tafasitamab with lenalidomide and R-CHOP vs R-CHOP alone for DLBCL across GCB and non-GCB disease subtypes, and a pooled analysis of the BRUIN CLL-313/314 trials showed high ORR and PFS rates and low toxicity of pirtobrutinib monotherapy for patients with previously untreated CLL.

During the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, new, important, and exciting data from many studies in leukemias, myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and lymphomas were presented. In this commentary, Matthew S. Davids, MD, MMSc, and Eunice S. Wang, MD, highlight the clinical implications of some key studies with the potential to change clinical practice for patients with leukemia, MPN, or lymphoma.

The downloadable slides summarizing the data from these studies are available on the Decera Clinical Education website. These studies will also be covered in more detail by Dr Davids and Dr Wang as part of Decera Clinical Education's Independent Highlights of the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting and the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2026 Congress.

Remember to check the Decera Clinical Education website often to review the CME-certified expert analysis text module with experts’ perspectives on the current and potential future clinical implications of these new datasets.

Top Picks
The following key studies in leukemias and MPNs were selected by Dr Eunice Wang.

  • ASC4FIRST: Long-term efficacy and safety results from the pivotal phase III study of asciminib (ASC) vs investigator-selected tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), including imatinib and second-generation TKIs, in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP). In the primary and secondary analyses of ASC4FIRST, the novel BCR-ABL inhibitor asciminib previously demonstrated a statistically superior major molecular response rate as well as a favorable safety and tolerability profile compared with other TKIs in Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) CML-CP. Based on results from the ASC4FIRST trial, asciminib received FDA approval for patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP in October 2024. This year, after a median follow-up of approximately 3.1 years (144 weeks), the results from this trial confirm a sustained improved major molecular response and safety profile of asciminib compared with investigator-selected TKIs for patients with previously untreated Ph+ CML-CP. These results provide further support for the use of asciminib in this patient population in routine clinical practice.
  • SENTRY: Phase III study of dual targeting of JAK/STAT signaling and XPO1 with ruxolitinib and selinexor vs placebo plus ruxolitinib for patients with JAK inhibitor–naive myelofibrosis. This trial promises to potentially set a new standard of care for the upfront treatment of patients with primary myelofibrosis or post -essential thrombocythemia (ET)/post polycythemia vera (PV) myelofibrosis. Although the current standard of care consists of single-agent JAK inhibitor therapy (ruxolitinib), patients randomized to the combination of ruxolitinib and selinexor achieved significantly greater spleen volume shrinkage compared with ruxolitinib alone, as well as clinically meaningful overall survival, with the absolute total symptom control being similar between arms. Whether this combination will meet the criteria for a new approval for selinexor for patients with primary myelofibrosis or post ET/PV myelofibrosis remains to be seen.

The following key studies in lymphomas were selected by Dr Matthew Davids.

  • frontMIND: Primary analysis of the phase III trial of tafasitamab with lenalidomide and R-CHOP (Tafa-Len-R-CHOP) vs placebo with R-CHOP for previously untreated, high intermediate/high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The standard of care in the frontline setting of DLBCL, pola-R-CHP, has demonstrated limited benefit for patients with non–germinal center B-cell–like (GCB) disease. Tafa-Len-R-CHOP was developed in an attempt to effectively treat both GCB and non-GCB subtypes. The primary results of frontMIND show a clear PFS benefit for this combination compared to R-CHOP alone (HR: 0.75), including for the GCB-like subtype, but with increased toxicity and a more challenging dosing schedule. Longer follow-up will be needed to understand whether an overall survival benefit emerges. A lingering question remains how Tafa-Len-R-CHOP would compare to Pola-R-CHP for patients with previously untreated DLBCL.
  • Pooled Analysis of BRUIN CLL-313 and BRUIN CLL-314: Efficacy and safety of pirtobrutinib monotherapy for treatment-naive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) in a pooled population. Initial results from each of these phase III trials were reported at ASH 2025 and simultaneously published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, with the frontline BRUIN CLL-313 evaluating pirtobrutinib vs bendamustine plus rituximab and BRUIN CLL-314 evaluating pirtobrutinib vs ibrutinib in a mixed population of untreated and relapsed/refractory patients naive to BTK inhibitors. This pooled analysis of the treatment-naive patients from both trials showed a high overall response rate of 93% and a 24-month PFS rate of 93%, supporting the potential use of pirtobrutinib as a continuous monotherapy in the frontline setting. It is also apparent that the risk of atrial fibrillation with pirtobrutinib is relatively low compared with historical levels seen with covalent BTK inhibitors. With these data, the uptake of pirtobrutinib as first-line treatment may begin in older patients and those with cardiovascular comorbidities who prefer continuous therapy with a BTK inhibitor. Longer follow-up and data demonstrating post-pirtobrutinib efficacy of covalent BTK inhibitors will be needed before broadly using the noncovalent BTK inhibitor pirtobrutinib for treatment-naive patients with CLL/SLL.
  • BGB-11417-101: Updated phase I outcomes of sonrotoclax plus zanubrutinib in patients with previously untreated CLL/SLL. These data suggest this combination of a very potent BCL2-inhibitor and covalent BTK inhibitor produces deep responses in the frontline setting with nearly all patients (>98%) achieving undetectable MRD4 in a typical frontline CLL patient population. Most strikingly, there were no progression events for patients in the 320 mg sonrotoclax cohort with a median follow-up of 34.1 months. These results support the ongoing registrational phase III CELESTIAL-TNCLL study (NCT06073821) of sonrotoclax plus zanubrutinib vs venetoclax plus obinutuzumab for treatment-naive CLL.

Your Thoughts
How might these research findings presented at ASCO 2026 influence treatment decision-making in your clinical practice? What additional data would you like to see, or what questions do you have about these therapeutic approaches before talking with your patients about ongoing clinical trials? Answer the polling question and join the conversation in the discussion box below.

Remember to check the Decera Clinical Education website often to review the CME-certified expert analysis text module of key data in leukemias, myelodysplastic syndrome, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and lymphomas from ASCO and EHA 2026!

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Which of the studies discussed in this commentary are you most excited about for its current or potential future impact on your care of patients?

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