The role of FLT3 inhibitors in the treatment of FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

FLT3 mutations are present in about one-third of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Several FLT3 inhibitors have been used in clinical trials, and these include midostaurin, sorafenib, quizartinib, crenolanib, and gilteritinib. Monotherapy with early tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) did not have much success; however, later generation agents have shown more promising results. Combination with conventional chemotherapy may have benefit as evidenced by recently presented results, and data from ongoing trials are eagerly awaited. Several trials are also evaluating TKI given after HSCT, and a large international randomized trial is planned. We may be close to an era of targeted therapy where the standard of care for this biologically defined subset will involve incorporation of a FLT3 TKI during induction chemotherapy and after HSCT. It is important that our community continues to collaborate to conduct well-designed clinical trials to properly define the role of FLT3 TKIs in therapy for FLT3-mutant AML.

Keywords: FLT3; acute myeloid leukemia; maintenance therapy; tyrosine kinase inhibitor.