IMPACT-AML Kick-starts its Mission!
The primary objectives were unveiled during the meeting, each aimed at revolutionizing the approach to R/R AML treatment and ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
The highly anticipated kick-off meeting of the innovative project, IMPACT-AML, took place in the town of Cesenatico, Italy. The meeting spanned two days, from the 6th to the 7th of July, gathering experts and participants from across Europe, all committed to tackling the challenges of relapse or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML).
The proceedings were inaugurated by the mayors of Cesenatico, Matteo Gozzoli, and Meldola, Roberto Cavallucci, emphasizing the significance of the project's impact on both local and global communities.
The meeting showcased the different work packages of IMPACT-AML, providing a comprehensive overview of the strategies and efforts that will be employed to achieve the project's ambitious goals.
IMPACT-AML's primary objectives were unveiled during the meeting, each aimed at revolutionizing the approach to R/R AML treatment and ensuring inclusivity and accessibility. The three main objectives are as follows:
- Creating an Innovative Framework for Enrolment: IMPACT-AML is determined to develop an inclusive framework, transcending barriers of ethnicity, country of origin, previous lines of therapy, personalized medicine subcategorization, or rare mutations. Every R/R AML patient will have the opportunity to participate in the project.
- Advancing Biological Knowledge through Biobanking: The project aims to implement robust biobanking procedures to enhance biological understanding. A consortium of international experts will establish standard operating procedures for local biobanking, facilitating the collection of samples and liquid biopsies for measurable residual disease (MRD) quantification in R/R AML. This endeavor will not only expand biological knowledge but also enable future correlative studies and establish a uniform definition of response.
- Gathering High-Quality Data for Treatment Interventions: Addressing the challenges of treating refractory cancers, particularly R/R AML, is a key focus. The project will evaluate low-intensity versus standard chemotherapy rescue through a randomized controlled trial. The primary objective will be to demonstrate a survival advantage with one strategy, with secondary endpoints including event-free survival, response rate, quality of response, bridge to SCT, patient-reported outcomes, and crucial quality of life factors for patients and their caregivers.
ERN-Eurobloodnet plays a pivotal role in the IMPACT-AML project by providing a robust platform for seamless data collection and ensuring interoperability with other initiatives under its umbrella. By harnessing the resources and expertise of ERN-Eurobloodnet, IMPACT-AML gains the necessary support to optimize data sharing, fostering collaborative research efforts that hold the potential to transform the landscape of acute myeloid leukemia treatment.
With an enthusiastic and diverse group of participants, the IMPACT-AML kick-off meeting set the stage for a promising journey towards improving the outcomes and quality of life for patients facing the challenges of R/R AML. This project holds the potential to transform the landscape of AML treatment, breaking down barriers and uniting experts across borders in the pursuit of a common goal.