Hematopoietic stem cell research over the past century has shown that leukemia may be driven by an invisible hand of inflammation. The bone marrow and inflammation, then, may hold the keys to preventing blood cancers, according to John E. Dick’s plenary session at the 2026 Korean Society of Hematology International Conference, held March 26, 2026.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) research over the past century has shown that leukemia may be driven by an invisible hand of inflammation. The bone marrow and inflammation, then, may hold the keys to preventing blood cancers, according to John E. Dick’s plenary session at the 2026 Korean Society of Hematology International Conference (ICKSH 2026), held March 26, 2026. Work in Dick’s lab has found acute myeloid leukemia (AML) HSCs that harbor preleukemic mutations long before any disease diagnosis. These insights have enabled predictive models that could identify individuals at elevated AML risk years before the onset of outright disease, opening the door to new prevention strategies.

Subcutaneous formulation technology, microbiomes and oncological assets drove dealmaking in South Korea’s biotech sector this week. 

In both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and synovial sarcoma (SS), targeting BRD9 disrupts oncogenic transcriptional programs, including MYC, leading to reduced proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Researchers from Pamplona Therapeutics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. reported the discovery and preclinical efficacy profile of XYD-270, a BRD9-targeting PROTAC, in models of SS and AML.

Subcutaneous (SC) formulation technology, microbiomes and oncological assets drove dealmaking in South Korea’s biotech sector this week. 

Researchers from the Sino-American Cancer Foundation and Taipei Medical University have developed a novel nanobody-based CAR T-cell platform directed against C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (CLL-1) for the possible treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

C-Further, an international consortium supporting new therapeutics for pediatric cancers, has unveiled the first early-stage therapeutic programs in its pipeline. The company said it is advancing CF-012 and CF-033 through its collaborative model.

Researchers in China reported the discovery and preclinical characterization of ZX-079, a novel BRD4/CBP PROTAC degrader.

To overcome the challenges of current CAR T-cell strategies and enhance their efficacy and specificity for acute myeloid leukemia, researchers at the Sino-American Cancer Foundation and collaborating institutions have developed a nanobody-based CAR T-cell platform directed against C-type lectin-like molecule-1 (CLL-1).

Omeros Corp. has successfully completed its initial study in nonhuman primates evaluating the efficacy and safety of its Oncotox-AML cancer therapeutic platform for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Oncotox-AML is an engineered biologic designed to selectively kill both AML blasts and relapse-related leukemia stem cells.