Dr. Stein on Recent Treatment Advances in AML

Eytan M. Stein, MD, internist, hematologic oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses recent advances that have been made in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Over the past couple years, several new therapies have been approved for patients with AML. For patients with newly diagnosed disease, the combination of midostaurin (Rydapt) and chemotherapy serves as an option for those with FLT3-mutated disease. For patients who are unfit for induction chemotherapy, hypomethylating agents or low-dose cytarabine (LD-AraC) can be given in combination with venetoclax (Venclexta). Moreover, the hedgehog inhibitor glasdegib (Daurismo) can be used in combination with LD-AraC. CPX-351 is a liposomal formulation of daunorubicin and cytarabine and can be offered to patients with therapy-related AML and AML with myelodysplastic-related changes.

In the relapsed/refractory setting, physicians have access to 3 newly approved agents, including the IDH1 inhibitor ivosidenib (Tibsovo), the IDH2 inhibitor enasidenib (Idhifa), and the FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib (Xospata). Physicians are also anticipating the FDA approval of quizartinib within the coming months for the treatment of patients with FLT3-mutant AML as well, concludes Stein.