Dr. Uy on the Efficacy Findings from a Phase 1/2 Trial in R/R AML

Geoffrey L. Uy, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Oncology Division, Bone Marrow Transplantation & Leukemia, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, discusses the efficacy findings from a phase 1/2 trial (NCT02306291) in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The addition of uproleselan (GMI-1271) to chemotherapy could potentially improve response rates in patients with AML by increasing the sensitivity of bone marrow blasts, Uy says. Additionally, E-selectin is vital for trafficking inflammatory macrophages to areas of tissue damage, which could create a second mechanism of action, Uy explains.

Additional data suggest that blocking the E-selectin pathway with uproleselan may protect against chemotherapy-induced mucositis, Uy continues. Patients in the trial received a chemotherapy regimen of mitoxantrone and etoposide, which is commonly associated with mucositis diarrhea as an adverse effect, Uy explains. However, these patients presented with lower rates of mucositis compared with typical observations for that regimen, Uy concludes.