Hematology World Foundation

01/10/2026

October 2026 issue is available online. See and download for free the Haematologica Digital Edition! https://haematologica.org/preview/digital/111/10

29/09/2026

CD1 proteins on so-called antigen-presenting cells display lipids from pathogens to T cells to drive protective immune responses, but they also trigger skin inflammation in response to some lipids.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/4iSH8lQ

29/09/2026

Nature Reviews Cancer: In this Review, the authors discuss how remodelling of the 3D structure of chromatin in cancer is both a cause and a consequence of genetic and epigenetic alterations and highlight how chromatin 3D conformation might be exploited for diagnosis and therapy.

Link to the Review in the comments.

28/09/2026

Inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (eHHV-6) is generally considered a benign genomic trait, but its clinical relevance after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains debated. In the case reported, eHHV-6A reactivation was associated with systemic manifestations, poor graft function and severely impaired immune reconstitution. Antiviral therapy and stem cell boosting were followed by viral suppression, clinical improvement and recovery of immune function, supporting a pathogenic role for eHHV-6A reactivation after transplantation.
Read the full Case Report in Haematologica.
https://haematologica.org/article/view/14130

26/09/2026

What happens when chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) progresses to myeloid blast phase and acquires an unexpected genetic rearrangement?
This case report describes the first case of blast-phase CML with a NUP98::HOXC12 fusion, identified through RNA sequencing, representing a previously unrecognized NUP98 fusion partner. The finding expands the spectrum of NUP98 rearrangements and highlights the complex clonal evolution underlying CML progression.
Read the full Case Report in Haematologica.
https://haematologica.org/article/view/14155

26/09/2026

Explore how artificial intelligence is being applied in AML research in the first webinar of ASH’s new AI Applications in Hematology web series.

Using recent AML studies as practical examples, participants will:

🔹 Understand how synthetic clinical and imaging data are generated and used in AML research
🔹 Explore synthetic data for data augmentation and control cohorts in clinical trials
🔹 Evaluate the validity, clinical utility, limitations, and validation requirements of synthetic data

Tune in September 30 from 1–2 p.m. ET. Register now: https://ow.ly/ScKb50ZRslN

24/09/2026

What happens when acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) looks like classic APL, but lacks the hallmark PML::RARA fusion?
This case report describes the first patient with an SQSTM1::RARA fusion, identified by whole-transcriptome sequencing after conventional testing failed to detect PML::RARA. The unusual fusion was associated with resistance to ATRA/ATO but striking sensitivity to venetoclax, highlighting the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by rare RARA rearrangements.
Read the full Case Report in Haematologica.
https://haematologica.org/article/view/14144

23/09/2026

22/09/2026

Resolving TP53 allelic status in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
How often do multiple TP53 mutations actually affect different alleles?
Using long-read sequencing in 29 patients with MDS carrying multiple TP53 mutations, this study found that multi-hit configurations overwhelmingly predominated, while monoallelic TP53 inactivation was rare. The findings support the continued use of conventional sequencing combined with variant allele frequqncy and cytogenetics in routine diagnostics, while highlighting a potential role for long-read sequencing in selected cases.
Read more in Haematologica.
https://haematologica.org/article/view/14125

21/09/2026

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀, or 𝗱𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘆𝘁𝗲𝘀, are abnormally shaped RBCs with a characteristic pear- or tear-like appearance. True dacrocytes typically have a rounded or blunted tip and point in different directions, whereas teardrop-shaped cells produced as a smear-preparation artifact usually have sharply pointed ends oriented in the same direction.

A prominent number of dacrocytes is classically associated with 𝗺𝘆𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀. Progressive marrow fibrosis distorts the normal marrow architecture and disrupts hematopoiesis, causing developing RBCs to become mechanically deformed as they pass through the abnormal marrow environment. Dacrocytes may therefore be a striking feature of the peripheral blood smear in myelofibrosis.

They are often accompanied by leukoerythroblastosis, nucleated RBCs, immature granulocytes, marked anisopoikilocytosis, and abnormal or giant platelets. Although strongly suggestive of marrow fibrosis in the appropriate context, dacrocytes are not specific and can also occur with marrow infiltration by metastatic or hematopoietic neoplasms, granulomatous disorders, splenic abnormalities, vitamin B12 deficiency, and other anemias.

The image below shows a peripheral blood smear from a patient with myelofibrosis, demonstrating abundant dacrocytes along with the characteristic abnormal red-cell morphology.