Enasidenib for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with an isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 mutation

IDH2 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia

Advances in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over the last 40 years have been limited. With an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, the advent of new treatment options has enriched the armamentarium of the physician to combat the disease. Mutations of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDHs) genes are common in AML and occur in 20-30% of cases. These mutations lead to DNA hypermethylation, aberrant gene expression, cell proliferation, and abnormal differentiation. Targeting mutant IDH, either as monotherapy or in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) or BCL-2 inhibitors, has opened new avenues of therapy for these patients.This review will outline the function of IDHs and focus on the biological effects of IDH2 mutations in AML, their prognosis and treatment options.

The contributing factors of resistance or sensitivity to epigenetic drugs in the treatment of AML

Drug resistance is the drug-effectiveness reduction in treatment and is a serious problem in oncology and infections. In oncology, drug resistance is a complicated process resulting from enhancing the function of a pump that transports drugs out of tumor cells, or acquiring mutations in drug target. Surprisingly, most drugs are very effective in the early stages, but the response to the drug wears off over time and resistance eventually develops. Drug resistance is caused by genetic and epigenetic changes that affect cancer cells and the tumor environment. The study of inherited changes in the phenotype without changes in the DNA sequence is called epigenetics. Because of reversible changes in epigenetics, they are an attractive target for therapy. Some of these epigenetic drugs are effective in treating cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is characterized by the accumulation and proliferation of immature hematopoietic cells in the blood and bone marrow. In this article, we outlined the various contributing factors involved in resistance or sensitivity to epigenetic drugs in the treatment of AML.