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Nong T, Mehra S, Taylor J. Common Driver Mutations in AML: Biological Impact, Clinical Considerations, and Treatment Strategies. Cells 2024; 13:1392. [PMID: 39195279 DOI: 10.3390/cells13161392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing of samples from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has revealed several driver gene mutations in adult AML. However, unlike other cancers, AML is defined by relatively few mutations per patient, with a median of 4-5 depending on subtype. In this review, we will discuss the most common driver genes found in patients with AML and focus on the most clinically relevant ones that impact treatment strategies. The most common driver gene mutations in AML occur in NPM1 and FLT3, accounting for ~30% each. There are now targeted therapies being tested or already approved for these driver genes. Menin inhibitors, a novel targeted therapy that blocks the function of the menin protein, are in clinical trials for NPM1 driver gene mutant AML after relapse. A number of FLT3 inhibitors are now approved for FLT3 driver gene mutant AML in combination with chemotherapy in the frontline and also as single agent in relapse. Although mutations in IDH1/2 and TP53 only occur in around 10-20% of patients with AML each, they can affect the treatment strategy due to their association with prognosis and availability of targeted agents. While the impact of other driver gene mutations in AML is recognized, there is a lack of data on the actionable impact of those mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Nong
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Shefali Mehra
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Justin Taylor
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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2
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Lap CJ, Abrahim MS, Nassereddine S. Perspectives and challenges of small molecule inhibitor therapy for FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Ann Hematol 2024; 103:2215-2229. [PMID: 37975931 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05545-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal disease characterized overall by an aggressive clinical course. The underlying genetic abnormalities present in leukemic cells contribute significantly to the AML phenotype. Mutations in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) are one of the most common genetic abnormalities identified in AML, and the presence of these mutations strongly influences disease presentation and negatively impacts prognosis. Since mutations in FLT3 were identified in AML, they have been recognized as a valid therapeutic target resulting in decades of research to develop effective small molecule inhibitor treatment that could improve outcome for these patients. Despite the approval of several FLT3 inhibitors over the last couple of years, the treatment of patients with FLT3-mutated AML remains challenging and many questions still need to be addressed. This review will provide an up-to-date overview of our current understanding of FLT3-mutated AML and discuss what the current status is of the available FLT3 inhibitors for the day-to-day management of this aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coen J Lap
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Marwa Sh Abrahim
- The George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Samah Nassereddine
- The George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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3
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Xiao F, Xu M, Cheng Y, Li T, Hong K, Li W. Generation of streptocarbazoles with cytotoxicities by pathway engineering and insights into their biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0218723. [PMID: 38307543 PMCID: PMC10952482 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02187-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Streptocarbazoles are a class of indolocarbazole (ICZ) compounds produced by Streptomyces strains that feature unique cyclic N-glycosidic linkages between the 1,3-carbon atoms of the glycosyl moiety and the two indole nitrogen atoms. Although several streptocarbazole compounds display effective cytotoxic activity, their biosynthesis remains unclear. Herein, through the inactivation of the aminotransferase gene spcI in the staurosporine biosynthetic gene cluster spc followed by heterologous expression, two new streptocarbazole derivatives (1 and 3) and three known ICZs (2, 4, and 5) were generated. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectroscopic methods, circular dichroism measurements, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1-4 displayed moderate cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cell line, and compounds 3 and 4 were effective against Huh 7 cell line. Double-gene knockout experiments allowed us to propose a biosynthetic pathway for streptocarbazole productions. Furthermore, by overexpression of the involving key enzymes, the production of streptocarbazoles 1 and 3 were improved by approximately 1.5-2.5 fold. IMPORTANCE Indolocarbazoles (ICZs) are a group of antitumor agents, with several analogs used in clinical trials. Therefore, the identification of novel ICZ compounds is important for drug discovery. Streptocarbazoles harbor unique N-glycosidic linkages (N13-C1' and N12-C3'), distinguishing them from the representative ICZ compound staurosporine; however, their biosynthesis remains unclear. In this study, two new streptocarbazoles (1 and 3) with cytotoxic activities were obtained by manipulating the staurosporine biosynthetic gene cluster spc followed by heterologous expression. The biosynthetic pathway of streptocarbazoles was proposed, and their productions were improved through the overexpression of the key enzymes involved. This study enriches the structural diversity of ICZ compounds and would facilitate the discovery of new streptocarbazoles via synthetic biological strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Mingyuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yongmeng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Tong Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Kui Hong
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education of China, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenli Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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4
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Pratz KW, Cherry M, Altman JK, Cooper BW, Podoltsev NA, Cruz JC, Lin TL, Schiller GJ, Jurcic JG, Asch A, Wu R, Hill JE, Gill SC, James AJ, Rich ES, Hasabou N, Perl AE, Levis MJ. Gilteritinib in Combination With Induction and Consolidation Chemotherapy and as Maintenance Therapy: A Phase IB Study in Patients With Newly Diagnosed AML. J Clin Oncol 2023; 41:4236-4246. [PMID: 37379495 DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Gilteritinib is a type 1 FLT3 inhibitor active as monotherapy for relapsed or refractory FLT3-mutated AML. We investigated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of gilteritinib incorporated into intensive induction and consolidation chemotherapy, and as maintenance therapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed, non-favorable-risk AML. METHODS In this phase IB study (2215-CL-0103; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02236013), 103 participants were screened and 80 were allocated to treatment. The study was divided into four parts: dose escalation, dose expansion, investigation of alternate anthracycline and gilteritinib schedule, and continuous gilteritinib during consolidation. RESULTS After dose escalation, 120 mg gilteritinib once daily was chosen for further study. There were 58 participants evaluable for response at this dose, 36 of whom harbored FLT3 mutations. For participants with FLT3-mutated AML, the composite complete response (CRc) rate was 89% (83% were conventional complete responses), all achieved after a single induction cycle. The median overall survival time was 46.1 months. Gilteritinib was well-tolerated in this context although the median time to count recovery during induction was approximately 40 days. Longer time-to-count recovery was associated with higher trough levels of gilteritinib, which, in turn, were associated with azole use. The recommended regimen is gilteritinib at a dose of 120 mg once daily from days 4 to 17 or 8 to 21 of a 7 + 3 induction with either idarubicin or daunorubicin and from day 1 continuously with high-dose cytarabine consolidation. Maintenance therapy with gilteritinib was well-tolerated. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated the safety and tolerability of gilteritinib incorporated into an induction and consolidation chemotherapy regimen, and as single-agent maintenance therapy for patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutant AML. The data herein provide an important framework for the design of randomized trials comparing gilteritinib with other FLT3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith W Pratz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mohamad Cherry
- Morristown Medical Center, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, Morristown, NJ
| | - Jessica K Altman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Brenda W Cooper
- University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
| | | | | | - Tara L Lin
- University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
| | - Gary J Schiller
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Adam Asch
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
| | - Ruishan Wu
- Astellas Pharma Global Development, Northbrook, IL
| | - Jason E Hill
- Astellas Pharma Global Development, Northbrook, IL
| | | | | | | | | | - Alexander E Perl
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Mark J Levis
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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Lara JJ, Bencomo-Alvarez AE, Gonzalez MA, Olivas IM, Young JE, Lopez JL, Velazquez VV, Glovier S, Keivan M, Rubio AJ, Dang SK, Solecki JP, Allen JC, Tapia DN, Tychhon B, Astudillo GE, Jordan C, Chandrashekar DS, Eiring AM. 19S Proteasome Subunits as Oncogenes and Prognostic Biomarkers in FLT3-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314586. [PMID: 36498916 PMCID: PMC9740165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
26S proteasome non-ATPase subunits 1 (PSMD1) and 3 (PSMD3) were recently identified as prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and multiple solid tumors. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of 19S proteasome subunits in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene and assessed their impact on overall survival (OS). High levels of PSMD3 but not PSMD1 expression correlated with a worse OS in FLT3-mutated AML. Consistent with an oncogenic role for PSMD3 in AML, shRNA-mediated PSMD3 knockdown impaired colony formation of FLT3+ AML cell lines, which correlated with increased OS in xenograft models. While PSMD3 regulated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) transcriptional activity in CML, we did not observe similar effects in FLT3+ AML cells. Rather, proteomics analyses suggested a role for PSMD3 in neutrophil degranulation and energy metabolism. Finally, we identified additional PSMD subunits that are upregulated in AML patients with mutated versus wild-type FLT3, which correlated with worse outcomes. These findings suggest that different components of the 19S regulatory complex of the 26S proteasome can have indications for OS and may serve as prognostic biomarkers in AML and other types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Lara
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Alfonso E. Bencomo-Alvarez
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Mayra A. Gonzalez
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Idaly M. Olivas
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - James E. Young
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jose L. Lopez
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Vanessa V. Velazquez
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Steven Glovier
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Mehrshad Keivan
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Andres J. Rubio
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Sara K. Dang
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jonathan P. Solecki
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Jesse C. Allen
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Desiree N. Tapia
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Boranai Tychhon
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Gonzalo E. Astudillo
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Connor Jordan
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Darshan S. Chandrashekar
- Department of Pathology-Molecular & Cellular, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Anna M. Eiring
- Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- L. Frederick Francis Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- Center of Emphasis in Cancer, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(915)-215-4812
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6
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Larson RA, Mandrekar SJ, Huebner LJ, Sanford BL, Laumann K, Geyer S, Bloomfield CD, Thiede C, Prior TW, Döhner K, Marcucci G, Voso MT, Klisovic RB, Galinsky I, Wei AH, Sierra J, Sanz MA, Brandwein JM, de Witte T, Niederwieser D, Appelbaum FR, Medeiros BC, Tallman MS, Krauter J, Schlenk RF, Ganser A, Serve H, Ehninger G, Amadori S, Gathmann I, Döhner H, Stone RM. Midostaurin reduces relapse in FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia: the Alliance CALGB 10603/RATIFY trial. Leukemia 2021; 35:2539-2551. [PMID: 33654204 PMCID: PMC8591906 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01179-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The prospective randomized, placebo-controlled CALGB 10603/RATIFY trial (Alliance) demonstrated a statistically significant overall survival benefit from the addition of midostaurin to standard frontline chemotherapy in a genotypically-defined subgroup of 717 patients with FLT3-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The risk of death was reduced by 22% on the midostaurin-containing arm. In this post hoc analysis, we analyzed the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) on this study and also evaluated the impact of 12 4-week cycles of maintenance therapy. CIR analyses treated relapses and AML deaths as events, deaths from other causes as competing risks, and survivors in remission were censored. CIR was improved on the midostaurin arm (HR = 0.71 (95% CI, 0.54-0.93); p = 0.01), both overall and within European LeukemiaNet 2017 risk classification subsets when post-transplant events were considered in the analysis as events. However, when transplantation was considered as a competing risk, there was overall no significant difference between the risks of relapse on the two randomized arms. Patients still in remission after consolidation with high-dose cytarabine entered the maintenance phase, continuing with either midostaurin or placebo. Analyses were inconclusive in quantifying the impact of the maintenance phase on the overall outcome. In summary, midostaurin reduces the CIR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Larson
- Department of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Sumithra J Mandrekar
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Alliance Statistics and Data Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lucas J Huebner
- Alliance Statistics and Data Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ben L Sanford
- Alliance Statistics and Data Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kristina Laumann
- Alliance Statistics and Data Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Susan Geyer
- Alliance Statistics and Data Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Clara D Bloomfield
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christian Thiede
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus der TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas W Prior
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Konstanze Döhner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Guido Marcucci
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Maria Teresa Voso
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Ilene Galinsky
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew H Wei
- Department of Clinical Haematology, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jorge Sierra
- Hematology Department, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, IIB Sant Pau and Jose Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel A Sanz
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe and Department of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Theo de Witte
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Frederick R Appelbaum
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bruno C Medeiros
- Division of Hematology, Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Martin S Tallman
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jürgen Krauter
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Richard F Schlenk
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- NCT Trial Center, National Center of Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arnold Ganser
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hubert Serve
- Department of Medicine II, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Gerhard Ehninger
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus der TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sergio Amadori
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Hartmut Döhner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Richard M Stone
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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7
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Cerchione C, Peleteiro Raíndo A, Mosquera Orgueira A, Mosquera Torre A, Bao Pérez L, Marconi G, Isidori A, Pérez Encinas MM, Martinelli G. Safety of FLT3 inhibitors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Expert Rev Hematol 2021; 14:851-865. [PMID: 34424108 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2021.1969911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is the most frequent type of acute leukemia in adults with an incidence of 4.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and poor 5-year survival. Patients with mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene have poor survival and higher relapse rates compared with wild-type cases.Areas covered: Several FLT3 inhibitors have been proved in FLT3mut AML patients, with differences in their pharmacokinetics, kinase inhibitory and adverse events profiles. First-generation multi-kinase inhibitors (midostaurin, sorafenib, lestaurtinib) target multiple proteins, whereassecond-generation inhibitors (crenolanib, quizartinib, gilteritinib) are more specific and potent inhibitors of FLT3, so they are associated with less off-target toxic effects. All of these drugs have primary and acquired mechanisms of resistance, and therefore their combinations with other drugs (checkpoint inhibitors, hypomethylating agents, standard chemotherapy) and its application in different clinical settings are under study.Expert opinion: The recent clinical development of various FLT3 inhibitors for the treatment of FLT3mut AML is an effective therapeutic strategy. However, there are unique toxicities and drug-drug interactions that need to be resolved. It is necessary to understand the mechanisms of toxicity in order to recognize and manage them adequately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Cerchione
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per Lo Studio Dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Andrés Peleteiro Raíndo
- Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (Idis), Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago (Chus), Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Adrián Mosquera Orgueira
- Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (Idis), Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago (Chus), Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Alicia Mosquera Torre
- Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (Idis), Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago (Chus), Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Laura Bao Pérez
- Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (Idis), Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago (Chus), Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Giovanni Marconi
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per Lo Studio Dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessandro Isidori
- Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Center, Aormn Hospital, Pesaro, Italy
| | - Manuel Mateo Pérez Encinas
- Health Research Institute of Santiago De Compostela (Idis), Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario De Santiago (Chus), Santiago De Compostela, Spain.,University of Santiago De Compostela, Santiago De Compostela, Spain
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per Lo Studio Dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, Italy
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8
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Moser B, Edtmayer S, Witalisz-Siepracka A, Stoiber D. The Ups and Downs of STAT Inhibition in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1051. [PMID: 34440253 PMCID: PMC8392322 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a highly heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy. The management of AML is complex and despite impressive efforts into better understanding its underlying molecular mechanisms, survival rates in the elderly have not shown a substantial improvement over the past decades. This is particularly due to the heterogeneity of AML and the need for personalized approaches. Due to the crucial role of the deregulated JAK-STAT signaling in AML, selective targeting of the JAK-STAT pathway, particularly constitutively activated STAT3 and STAT5 and their associated upstream JAKs, is of great interest. This strategy has shown promising results in vitro and in vivo with several compounds having reached clinical trials. Here, we summarize recent FDA approvals and current potential clinically relevant inhibitors for AML patients targeting JAK and STAT proteins. This review underlines the need for detailed cytogenetic analysis and additional assessment of JAK-STAT pathway activation. It highlights the ongoing development of new JAK-STAT inhibitors with better disease specificity, which opens up new avenues for improved disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dagmar Stoiber
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Division Pharmacology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems, Austria; (B.M.); (S.E.); (A.W.-S.)
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9
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Gilteritinib: potent targeting of FLT3 mutations in AML. Blood Adv 2021; 4:1178-1191. [PMID: 32208491 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019000174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3)-activating mutations as genetic drivers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), investigators have tried to develop tyrosine kinase inhibitors that could effectively target FLT3 and alter the disease trajectory. Giltertinib (formerly known as ASP2215) is a novel compound that entered the field late, but moved through the developmental process with remarkable speed. In many ways, this drug's rapid development was facilitated by the large body of knowledge gained over the years from efforts to develop other FLT3 inhibitors. Single-agent gilteritinib, a potent and selective oral FLT3 inhibitor, improved the survival of patients with relapsed or refractory FLT3-mutated AML compared with standard chemotherapy. This continues to validate the approach of targeting FLT3 itself and establishes a new backbone for testing combination regimens. This review will frame the preclinical and clinical development of gilteritinib in the context of the lessons learned from its predecessors.
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10
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Brown PA, Kairalla JA, Hilden JM, Dreyer ZE, Carroll AJ, Heerema NA, Wang C, Devidas M, Gore L, Salzer WL, Winick NJ, Carroll WL, Raetz EA, Borowitz MJ, Small D, Loh ML, Hunger SP. FLT3 inhibitor lestaurtinib plus chemotherapy for newly diagnosed KMT2A-rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Children's Oncology Group trial AALL0631. Leukemia 2021; 35:1279-1290. [PMID: 33623141 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-021-01177-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Infants with KMT2A-rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (KMT2A-r ALL) have a poor prognosis. KMT2A-r ALL overexpresses FLT3, and the FLT3 inhibitor (FLT3i) lestaurtinib potentiates chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity in preclinical models. Children's Oncology Group (COG) AALL0631 tested whether adding lestaurtinib to post-induction chemotherapy improved event-free survival (EFS). After chemotherapy induction, KMT2A-r infants received either chemotherapy only or chemotherapy plus lestaurtinib. Correlative assays included FLT3i plasma pharmacodynamics (PD), which categorized patients as inhibited or uninhibited, and FLT3i ex vivo sensitivity (EVS), which categorized leukemic blasts as sensitive or resistant. There was no difference in 3-year EFS between patients treated with chemotherapy plus lestaurtinib (n = 67, 36 ± 6%) vs. chemotherapy only (n = 54, 39 ± 7%, p = 0.67). However, for the lestaurtinib-treated patients, FLT3i PD and FLT3i EVS significantly correlated with EFS. For FLT3i PD, EFS for inhibited/uninhibited was 59 ± 10%/28 ± 7% (p = 0.009) and for FLTi EVS, EFS for sensitive/resistant was 52 ± 8%/5 ± 5% (p < 0.001). Seventeen patients were both inhibited and sensitive, with an EFS of 88 ± 8%. Adding lestaurtinib did not improve EFS overall, but patients achieving potent FLT3 inhibition and those whose leukemia blasts were sensitive FLT3-inhibition ex vivo did benefit from the addition of lestaurtinib. Patient selection and PD-guided dose escalation may enhance the efficacy of FLT3 inhibition for KMT2A-r infant ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Brown
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - John A Kairalla
- Department of Biostatistics, Colleges of Medicine, Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Joanne M Hilden
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Carroll
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Nyla A Heerema
- The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Cindy Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Colleges of Medicine, Public Health & Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Meenakshi Devidas
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Lia Gore
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Wanda L Salzer
- U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, MD, USA
| | - Naomi J Winick
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Texas Southwestern School of Medicine, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - William L Carroll
- Department of Pediatrics and Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Raetz
- Department of Pediatrics and Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Borowitz
- Departments of Pathology and Oncology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Donald Small
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mignon L Loh
- Department of Pediatrics, Benioff Children's Hospital and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephen P Hunger
- Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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11
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Choi S, Kim BK, Ahn HY, Hong KT, Choi JY, Shin HY, Kang HJ. Outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia patients with FLT3-ITD mutations in the pre-FLT3 inhibitor era. Blood Res 2020; 55:217-224. [PMID: 33232940 PMCID: PMC7784129 DOI: 10.5045/br.2020.2020127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with internal tandem duplication in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-ITD) is associated with poor outcomes. This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of pediatric AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutations in the pre-FLT3 inhibitor era. Methods We retrospectively reviewed and identified 18 patients diagnosed with non-M3 AML with FLT3-ITD mutations at Seoul National University Children’s Hospital between May 2008 and August 2019. Results The median age was 13 years (range, 6‒19 yr). The median follow-up time was 43 months (range, 6‒157 mo). Fourteen patients received BH-AC-based (N4-Behenoy1-1-b-D-arabinofuranosy1cytosine) and 4 received cytarabine-based induction chemotherapy. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 72.2% of the patients after the first induction chemotherapy and 80% of the patients achieved CR after salvage therapy. The overall CR rate was 94% (17/18 patients). These 17 patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (9 matched unrelated donors, 5 matched related donors, and 3 haploidentical donors). Relapse occurred in 22% of the patients. Event free survival and overall survival rates were 53.8±12.1% and 53.6±12.1%, respectively, and they were not significantly different according to the type of induction chemotherapy (P=0.690) or the type of donor (P=0.102). Conclusion This study outlines the outcomes of pediatric AML patients with FLT3-ITD-mutations in one institution over a decade. Outcomes were significantly improved in this study compared to our previous report in 2004, where RFS and EFS were 0%. This study can provide baseline data for pediatric patients in the pre-FLT3 inhibitor era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujin Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bo Kyung Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hong Yul Ahn
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung Taek Hong
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Yoon Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hee Young Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyoung Jin Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Seoul National University Cancer Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.,Wide River Institute of Immunology, Hongcheon, Korea
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12
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Marensi V, Keeshan KR, MacEwan DJ. Pharmacological impact of FLT3 mutations on receptor activity and responsiveness to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 183:114348. [PMID: 33242449 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer characterized by the rapid proliferation of immature myeloid blast cells, resulting in a high mortality rate. The 5-year overall survival rate for AML patients is approximately 25%. Circa 35% of all patients carry a mutation in the FLT3 gene which have a poor prognosis. Targeting FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase has become a treatment strategy in AML patients possessing FLT3 mutations. The most common mutations are internal tandem duplications (ITD) within exon 14 and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that leads to a point mutation in the D835 of the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD). Variations in the ITD sequence and the occurrence of other point mutations that lead to ligand-independent FLT3 receptor activation create difficulties in developing personalized therapeutic strategies to overcome observed mutation-driven drug resistance. Midostaurin and quizartinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with inhibitory efficacy against FLT3-ITD, but exhibit limited clinical impact. In this review, we focus on the structural aspects of the FLT3 receptor and correlate those mutations with receptor activation and the consequences for molecular and clinical responsiveness towards therapies targeting FLT3-ITD positive AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Marensi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Karen R Keeshan
- Paul O'Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David J MacEwan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
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13
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Mosquera Orgueira A, Bao Pérez L, Mosquera Torre A, Peleteiro Raíndo A, Cid López M, Díaz Arias JÁ, Ferreiro Ferro R, Antelo Rodríguez B, González Pérez MS, Albors Ferreiro M, Alonso Vence N, Pérez Encinas MM, Bello López JL, Martinelli G, Cerchione C. FLT3 inhibitors in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: current status and future perspectives. Minerva Med 2020; 111:427-442. [PMID: 32955823 DOI: 10.23736/s0026-4806.20.06989-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene arise in 25-30% of all acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. These mutations lead to constitutive activation of the protein product and are divided in two broad types: internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the juxtamembrane domain (25% of cases) and point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD). Patients with FLT3 ITD mutations have a high relapse risk and inferior cure rates, whereas the role of FLT3 TKD mutations still remains to be clarified. Additionally, growing research indicates that FLT3 status evolves through a disease continuum (clonal evolution), where AML cases can acquire FLT3 mutations at relapse - not present in the moment of diagnosis. Several FLT3 inhibitors have been tested in patients with FLT3-mutated AML. These drugs exhibit different kinase inhibitory profiles, pharmacokinetics and adverse events. First-generation multi-kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, midostaurin, lestaurtinib) are characterized by a broad-spectrum of drug targets, whereas second-generation inhibitors (quizartinib, crenolanib, gilteritinib) show more potent and specific FLT3 inhibition, and are thereby accompanied by less toxic effects. Notwithstanding, all FLT3 inhibitors face primary and acquired mechanisms of resistance, and therefore the combinations with other drugs (standard chemotherapy, hypomethylating agents, checkpoint inhibitors) and its application in different clinical settings (upfront therapy, maintenance, relapsed or refractory disease) are under study in a myriad of clinical trials. This review focuses on the role of FLT3 mutations in AML, pharmacological features of FLT3 inhibitors, known mechanisms of drug resistance and accumulated evidence for the use of FLT3 inhibitors in different clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Mosquera Orgueira
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain - .,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain - .,University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain -
| | - Laura Bao Pérez
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Alicia Mosquera Torre
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Andrés Peleteiro Raíndo
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Miguel Cid López
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Á Díaz Arias
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Roi Ferreiro Ferro
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Beatriz Antelo Rodríguez
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Marta S González Pérez
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel Albors Ferreiro
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Natalia Alonso Vence
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel M Pérez Encinas
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José L Bello López
- Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Division of Hematology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS - SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Unit of Hematology, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Forlì-Cesena, Italy
| | - Claudio Cerchione
- Unit of Hematology, IRCCS Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST), Meldola, Forlì-Cesena, Italy
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14
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Elmeliegy M, Den Haese J, Talati C, Wetzler M, Jusko WJ. Towards better combination regimens of cytarabine and FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2020; 86:325-337. [PMID: 32748108 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-020-04114-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AML patients with FLT3/ITD mutations have poor response to cytarabine-based chemotherapy. FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i) may resensitize cells to cytarabine (CYT). Improving treatment outcome of this combination may benefit from a mechanistic extrapolation approach from in vitro data. METHODS The effects of CYT and several FLT3i on cell proliferation and cell cycle kinetics were examined in AML cell lines. The effect of FLT3i (quizartinib, midostaurin, sorafenib) on cell proliferation and cell cycle kinetics was assessed in AML cell lines with differing FLT3 status; HEL (negligible expression of wild-type FLT3), EOL1 (wild-type FLT3), MV4-11 (FLT3-ITD resulting in constitutively active isoform). Semi-mechanistic cell cycle models for CYT and FLT3i were developed. Clinical CYT and quizartinib pharmacokinetic dosage regimens were modeled. Survival of AML patients was described via a hazard model. Simulations exploring different CYT/quizartinib regimens were conducted with the goal of improving treatment outcome. RESULTS FLT3 status was associated with sensitivity to CYT (HEL cells most sensitive > EOL1 > MV4-11 cells). This order of sensitivity is reversed for FLT3i. Cytarabine induced apoptosis in the S-phase while all FLT3i induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Simulations of candidate clinical regimens predict better cell kill upon adding quizartinib simultaneously with or immediately after CYT exposure. Overall survival was predicted to be significantly better with quizartinib 200 mg administered every 48 h vs every 24 h in patients with FLT3 aberrations. CONCLUSION Simultaneous administration of quizartinib and CYT every other day is a promising combination regimen for AML patients with FLT3 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Elmeliegy
- Pfizer, Inc., 10555 Science Center Dr., San Diego, CA, 92121, USA. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
| | - Jason Den Haese
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Department of Biology and Mathematics, D'Youville College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Chetasi Talati
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, USA.,Department of Malignant Hematology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Meir Wetzler
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - William J Jusko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
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15
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Chew S, Mackey MC, Jabbour E. Gilteritinib in the treatment of relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a FLT3 mutation. Ther Adv Hematol 2020; 11:2040620720930614. [PMID: 32547718 PMCID: PMC7271272 DOI: 10.1177/2040620720930614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignancy of uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid blasts characterized by clonal evolution and genetic heterogeneity. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations occur in up to a third of AML cases and are associated with highly proliferative disease, shorter duration of remission, and increased rates of disease relapse. The known impact of activating mutations in FLT3 in AML on disease pathogenesis, prognosis, and response to therapy has led to the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting FLT3. Gilteritinib is a potent, second generation inhibitor of both FLT3 and AXL, designed to address the limitations of other FLT3 inhibitors, particularly in targeting mechanisms of resistance to other drugs. In this review, we present comprehensive data on recent and ongoing studies evaluating the role of gilteritinib in the relapsed and refractory FLT3 mutated AML setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Chew
- University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center,
Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Elias Jabbour
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 428, Houston, TX
77030, USA
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16
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Role of CYP3A4 in bone marrow microenvironment-mediated protection of FLT3/ITD AML from tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Blood Adv 2020; 3:908-916. [PMID: 30898762 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018022921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An intriguing aspect of the clinical activity of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitors (FLT3 TKIs) is their apparent higher activity against peripheral blasts from FLT3/internal tandem duplication (ITD) acute myeloid leukemia than marrow disease in the same patients. Accordingly, studies showed that the bone marrow microenvironment plays a role in FLT3 TKI resistance, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We recently identified a previously undescribed mechanism by which the bone marrow microenvironment can contribute to drug resistance: expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs). In fact, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) expressed most CYPs, including CYP3A4. Because hepatic CYP3A4 plays a role in the inactivation of several FLT3 TKIs, we explored the potential role of CYP3A4 in bone marrow microenvironment-mediated FLT3 TKI resistance. We found that CYP3A4 plays a major role in BMSC-mediated inhibition in the activity of 3 different FLT3 TKIs (sorafenib, quizartinib, and gilteritinib) against FLT3/ITD acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Furthermore, clarithromycin, a clinically active CYP3A4 inhibitor, significantly reversed the protective effects of BMSCs. We show, for the first time, that bone marrow stromal CYP3A4 contributes to FLT3 TKI resistance in the bone marrow. These results suggest that combining FLT3 TKIs with CYP3A4 inhibitors could be a promising strategy toward improving the activity of FLT3 TKIs.
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17
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Fiorentini A, Capelli D, Saraceni F, Menotti D, Poloni A, Olivieri A. The Time Has Come for Targeted Therapies for AML: Lights and Shadows. Oncol Ther 2020; 8:13-32. [PMID: 32700072 PMCID: PMC7359996 DOI: 10.1007/s40487-019-00108-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex disease characterized by genetic and clinical heterogeneity and high mortality. After 40 years during which the standard of care for patients evolved very little, the therapeutic landscape has recently seen rapid changes, with the approval of eight new drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within the last 2 years, providing new opportunities, as well as new challenges, for treating clinicians. These therapies include FLT3 inhibitors midostaurin and gilteritinib, CPX-351 (liposomal cytarabine and daunorubicin), gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO, anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody conjugated with calicheamicin), IDH1/IDH2 inhibitors ivosidenib and enasidenib, Hedgehog inhibitor glasdegib, and BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax. In this review, we summarize currently available data on these new drugs and discuss the rapidly evolving therapeutic armamentarium for AML, focusing on targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Fiorentini
- Hematology Department and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Debora Capelli
- Hematology Department and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Saraceni
- Hematology Department and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Diego Menotti
- Hematology Department and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonella Poloni
- Hematology Department and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Attilio Olivieri
- Hematology Department and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ospedali Riuniti di Ancona, Ancona, Italy.
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18
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Perelló-Reus CM, Català A, Caviedes-Cárdenas L, Vega-García N, Camós M, Pérez-Torras S, Pastor-Anglada M. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) modulates key enzymes of nucleotide metabolism implicated in cytarabine responsiveness in pediatric acute leukemia. Pharmacol Res 2019; 151:104556. [PMID: 31778791 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of pediatric acute leukemia might involve combined therapies targeting the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) receptor (i.e. quizartinib - AC220) and nucleotide metabolism (cytarabine - AraC). This study addressed the possibility of FLT3 modulating nucleoside salvage processes and, eventually, cytarabine action. Bone marrow samples from 108 pediatric leukemia patients (B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, BCP-ALL: 83; T-ALL: 9; acute myeloid leukemia, AML: 16) were used to determine the mRNA expression levels of FLT3, the cytarabine activating kinase dCK, and the nucleotidases cN-II and SAMHD1. FLT3 mRNA levels positively correlated with dCK, cN-II and SAMHD1 in the studied cohort. FLT3 inhibition using AC220 promoted the expression of cN-II in MV4-11 cells. Indeed, inhibition of cN-II with anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AdiS) further potentiated the synergistic action of AC220 and cytarabine, at low concentrations of this nucleoside analog. FLT3 inhibition also down-regulated phosphorylated forms of SAMHD1 in MV4-11 and SEM cells. Thus, inhibition of FLT3 may also target the biochemical machinery associated with nucleoside salvage, which may modulate the ability of nucleoside-derived drugs. In summary, this contribution highlights the need to expand current knowledge on the mechanistic events linking tyrosine-kinase receptors, likely to be druggable in cancer treatment, and nucleotide metabolism, particularly considering tumor cells undergo profound metabolic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina M Perelló-Reus
- Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas (CIBER EHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Català
- Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Pediatric Hematology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER ER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Liska Caviedes-Cárdenas
- Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas (CIBER EHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nerea Vega-García
- Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Hematology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu (IR SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Camós
- Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Hematology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu (IR SJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER ER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Pérez-Torras
- Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas (CIBER EHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marçal Pastor-Anglada
- Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas (CIBER EHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Institut de Recerca Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
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19
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JAKs to STATs: A tantalizing therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Rev 2019; 40:100634. [PMID: 31677846 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2019.100634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The Janus Associated Kinase-Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in hematopoietic growth factor signaling. Hyperactive JAK-STAT signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The significant headway in understanding the biology of AML has led to an explosion of novel therapeutics with mechanistic rationale for the treatment of newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML. Most importantly, selective targeting of the JAK-STAT pathway has proven to be an effective therapeutic strategy in myeloproliferative neoplasms and is also being evaluated in related myeloid malignancies, including AML. This comprehensive review will focus on the apparent and evolving potential of JAK-STAT pathway inhibition in AML with emphasis on JAK inhibitors, highlighting both success and failure with this experimental approach in the clinic, and identifying rationally based combinatorial approaches.
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20
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Ueno Y, Mori M, Kamiyama Y, Saito R, Kaneko N, Isshiki E, Kuromitsu S, Takeuchi M. Evaluation of gilteritinib in combination with chemotherapy in preclinical models of FLT3-ITD+ acute myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 2019; 10:2530-2545. [PMID: 31069015 PMCID: PMC6493465 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Activating internal tandem duplication (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) point mutations in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) occur in approximately 30% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and confer a poor prognosis with standard cytarabine/anthracycline or azacitidine-based chemotherapy regimens. Gilteritinib is a highly-specific, potent FLT3/AXL inhibitor with demonstrated activity against FLT3-ITD and FLT3-TKD mutations. Compared with salvage chemotherapy, treatment with once-daily oral gilteritinib demonstrated a clinical benefit in patients with FLT3-mutated relapsed/refractory AML, which led to its recent approval in Japan and the United States. We investigated the effects of gilteritinib combined with cytarabine plus daunorubicin/idarubicin, or combined with azacitidine in human FLT3-ITD–positive (FLT3-ITD+) AML cell lines and xenografted mouse models. Gilteritinib induced G1 arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of cytarabine, daunorubicin, idarubicin, or azacitidine potentiated apoptosis. Gilteritinib alone or combined with cytarabine, daunorubicin, idarubicin, or azacitidine, inhibited anti-apoptotic protein expression in MV4-11 cells. In xenografted mice, administration of cytarabine, idarubicin, or azacitidine in combination with gilteritinib had little impact on plasma or intratumor PK profiles of gilteritinib, cytarabine, idarubicin, or azacitidine. Gilteritinib combined with chemotherapy reduced tumor volume to a greater extent than either gilteritinib or chemotherapy alone. Of note, the addition of cytarabine plus daunorubicin/idarubicin led to tumor regression in mice, with complete regression observed in six out of eight mice in both triple combination groups. These findings support the investigation of gilteritinib combined with chemotherapy in patients with FLT3-ITD+ AML, including those who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Ueno
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masamichi Mori
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Rika Saito
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Naoki Kaneko
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Eriko Isshiki
- Biological Research Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Sadao Kuromitsu
- Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma, Inc., Ibaraki, Japan
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21
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Short NJ, Kantarjian H, Ravandi F, Daver N. Emerging treatment paradigms with FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia. Ther Adv Hematol 2019; 10:2040620719827310. [PMID: 30800259 PMCID: PMC6378516 DOI: 10.1177/2040620719827310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) gene are detected in approximately one-third of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These consist of the more common FLT3-internal tandem duplication (ITD) in approximately 20-25% of AML cases, and point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) in approximately 5-10%. FLT3 mutations, especially FLT3-ITD, are associated with proliferative disease, increased risk of relapse, and inferior overall survival when treated with conventional regimens. However, the recent development of well tolerated and active FLT3 inhibitors has significantly improved the outcomes of this aggressive subtype of AML. The multikinase inhibitor midostaurin was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in April 2017 for the frontline treatment of patients with FLT3-mutated (either ITD or TKD) AML in combination with induction chemotherapy, representing the first new drug approval in AML in nearly two decades. In November 2018, the US FDA also approved the second-generation FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib as a single agent for patients with relapsed or refractory FLT3-mutated AML. Promising phase I and II efficacy data for quizartinib is likely to lead to a third regulatory approval in relapsed/refractory AML in the near future. However, despite the significant progress made in managing FLT3-mutated AML, many questions remain regarding the best approach to integrate these inhibitors into combination regimens, and also the optimal sequencing of different FLT3 inhibitors in various clinical settings. This review comprehensively examines the FLT3 inhibitors currently in clinical development, with an emphasis on their spectra of activity against different FLT3 mutations and other kinases, clinical safety and efficacy data, and their current and future roles in the management of AML. The mechanisms of resistance to FLT3 inhibitors and potential combination strategies to overcome such resistance pathways are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Short
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hagop Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Naval Daver
- Department of Leukemia, Unit 428, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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22
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Midostaurin: its odyssey from discovery to approval for treating acute myeloid leukemia and advanced systemic mastocytosis. Blood Adv 2019; 2:444-453. [PMID: 29487059 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017011080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Midostaurin was a prototype kinase inhibitor, originally developed as a protein kinase C inhibitor and subsequently as an angiogenesis inhibitor, based on its inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Despite promising preclinical data, early clinical trials in multiple diseases showed only modest efficacy. In 1996, the relatively frequent occurrence of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) activating mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was first recognized. Several years later, midostaurin was discovered to be a potent inhibitor of the FLT3 tyrosine kinase and to have activity against mutant forms of KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase, which drive advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM). Through a series of collaborations between industry and academia, midostaurin in combination with standard chemotherapy was evaluated in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B 10603/RATIFY study, a large, phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML. This was the first study to show significant improvements in overall survival and event-free survival with the addition of a targeted therapy to standard chemotherapy in this population. Around the same time, durable responses were also observed in other trials of midostaurin in patients with advanced SM. Collectively, these clinical data led to the approval of midostaurin by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for both newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML and advanced SM.
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23
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Novel Agents for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10110429. [PMID: 30423907 PMCID: PMC6267447 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10110429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a complex hematological disease characterized by genetic and clinical heterogeneity. Recent advances in the understanding of AML pathogenesis have paved the way for the development of new agents targeting specific molecules or mechanisms that contribute to finally move beyond the current standard of care, which is "3 + 7" regimen. In particular, new therapeutic options such as targeted therapies (midostaurin and enasidenib), monoclonal antibodies (gemtuzumab ozogamicin), and a novel liposomal formulation of cytarabine and daunorubicin (CPX-351) have been recently approved, and will be soon available for the treatment of adult patients with AML. In this review, we will present and describe these recently approved drugs as well as selected novel agents against AML that are currently under investigation, and show the most promising results as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. The selection of these emerging treatments is based on the authors' opinion.
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24
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Abstract
Determining which FLT3 inhibitor holds the greatest promise is a difficult task, as the drugs vary according to potency, specificity, protein-binding, drug interactions, and side effect profile. The best choice depends on when in the course of the disease the inhibitor will be used. Moreover, as the results of ongoing trials become available, newer agents could supplant former 'best' drugs. This paper reviews FLT3 inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy early in the disease in FLT3 mutant patients, as single agents or in combination in advanced disease, or in the post-transplant setting to provide separate answers to the main question.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Stone
- Director, Adult Leukemia Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, D2053, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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25
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Zhou J, Chng WJ. Resistance to FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia: Molecular mechanisms and resensitizing strategies. World J Clin Oncol 2018; 9:90-97. [PMID: 30254964 PMCID: PMC6153124 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v9.i5.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is classified as a type III receptor tyrosine kinase, which exerts a key role in regulation of normal hematopoiesis. FLT3 mutation is the most common genetic mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and represents an attractive therapeutic target. Targeted therapy with FLT3 inhibitors in AML shows modest promising results in current ongoing clinical trials suggesting the complexity of FLT3 targeting in therapeutics. Importantly, resistance to FLT3 inhibitors may explain the lack of overwhelming response and could obstruct the successful treatment for AML. Here, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of primary resistance and acquired resistance to FLT3 inhibitors and discuss the strategies to circumvent the emergency of drug resistance and to develop novel treatment intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbiao Zhou
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
| | - Wee-Joo Chng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119074, Singapore
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, NUHS, Singapore 119228, Singapore
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26
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Taylor SJ, Duyvestyn JM, Dagger SA, Dishington EJ, Rinaldi CA, Dovey OM, Vassiliou GS, Grove CS, Langdon WY. Preventing chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression by repurposing the FLT3 inhibitor quizartinib. Sci Transl Med 2018; 9:9/402/eaam8060. [PMID: 28794285 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aam8060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We describe an approach to inhibit chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. We found that short-term exposure of mice to the FLT3 inhibitor quizartinib induced the transient quiescence of multipotent progenitors (MPPs). This property of quizartinib conferred marked protection to MPPs in mice receiving fluorouracil or gemcitabine. The protection resulted in the rapid recovery of bone marrow and blood cellularity, thus preventing otherwise lethal myelosuppression. A treatment strategy involving quizartinib priming that protected wild-type bone marrow progenitors, but not leukemic cells, from fluorouracil provided a more effective treatment than conventional induction therapy in mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia. This strategy has the potential to be extended for use in other cancers where FLT3 inhibition does not adversely affect the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Thus, the addition of quizartinib to cancer treatment regimens could markedly improve cancer patient survival and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Taylor
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Johanna M Duyvestyn
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Samantha A Dagger
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Emma J Dishington
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Catherine A Rinaldi
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Oliver M Dovey
- Department of Haematology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - George S Vassiliou
- Department of Haematology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.,Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Carolyn S Grove
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,PathWest Department of Haematology, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Department of Haematology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Wallace Y Langdon
- School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
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27
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Larrosa-Garcia M, Baer MR. FLT3 Inhibitors in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Current Status and Future Directions. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 16:991-1001. [PMID: 28576946 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), involved in regulating survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, is expressed on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells in most patients. Mutations of FLT3 resulting in constitutive signaling are common in AML, including internal tandem duplication (ITD) in the juxtamembrane domain in 25% of patients and point mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain in 5%. Patients with AML with FLT3-ITD have a high relapse rate and short relapse-free and overall survival after chemotherapy and after transplant. A number of inhibitors of FLT3 signaling have been identified and are in clinical trials, both alone and with chemotherapy, with the goal of improving clinical outcomes in patients with AML with FLT3 mutations. While inhibitor monotherapy produces clinical responses, they are usually incomplete and transient, and resistance develops rapidly. Diverse combination therapies have been suggested to potentiate the efficacy of FLT3 inhibitors and to prevent development of resistance or overcome resistance. Combinations with epigenetic therapies, proteasome inhibitors, downstream kinase inhibitors, phosphatase activators, and other drugs that alter signaling are being explored. This review summarizes the current status of translational and clinical research on FLT3 inhibitors in AML, and discusses novel combination approaches. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(6); 991-1001. ©2017 AACR.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/mortality
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/pathology
- Mutation
- Protein Binding
- Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Protein Multimerization
- Tandem Repeat Sequences
- Treatment Outcome
- fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/antagonists & inhibitors
- fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/chemistry
- fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/genetics
- fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Larrosa-Garcia
- University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Maria R Baer
- University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
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28
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Strese S, Hassan SB, Velander E, Haglund C, Höglund M, Larsson R, Gullbo J. In vitro and in vivo anti-leukemic activity of the peptidase-potentiated alkylator melflufen in acute myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 2018; 8:6341-6352. [PMID: 27974676 PMCID: PMC5351636 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The novel aminopeptidase potentiated alkylating agent melflufen, was evaluated for activity in acute myeloid leukemia in a range of in vitro models, as well as in a patient derived xenograft study. All tested AML cell lines were highly sensitive to melflufen while melphalan was considerably less potent. In the HL-60 cell line model, synergy was observed for the combination of melflufen and cytarabine, an interaction that appeared sequence dependent with increased synergy when melflufen was added before cytarabine. Also, in primary cultures of AML cells from patients melflufen was highly active, while normal PBMC cultures appeared less sensitive, indicating a 7-fold in vitro therapeutic index. Melphalan, on the other hand, was only 2-fold more potent in the AML patient samples compared with PBMCs. Melflufen was equally active against non-malignant, immature CD34+ progenitor cells and a more differentiated CD34+ derived cell population (GM14), whereas the stem cell like cells were less sensitive to melphalan. Finally, melflufen treatment showed significant anti-leukemia activity and increased survival in a patient derived xenograft of AML in mice. In conclusion, melflufen demonstrates high and significant preclinical activity in AML and further clinical evaluation seem warranted in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Strese
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Saadia Bashir Hassan
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ebba Velander
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Caroline Haglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martin Höglund
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Hematology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joachim Gullbo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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29
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Schlenk RF, Kayser S. Midostaurin: A Multiple Tyrosine Kinases Inhibitor in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Systemic Mastocytosis. Recent Results Cancer Res 2018; 212:199-214. [PMID: 30069632 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91439-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Midostaurin (PKC412, Rydapt®) is an oral multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Main targets are the kinase domain receptor, vascular endothelial-, platelet derived-, and fibroblast growth factor receptor, stem cell factor receptor c-KIT, as well as mutated and wild-type FLT3 kinases. Midostaurin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medical Agency (EMA) for acute myeloid leukemia with activating FLT3 mutations in combination with intensive induction and consolidation therapy as well as aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM), systemic mastocytosis with associated hematological neoplasm (SM-AHN) or mast cell leukemia (MCL). Several clinical trials are active or are planned to further investigate the role of midostaurin in myeloid malignancies and mastocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard F Schlenk
- NCT-Trial Center, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Sabine Kayser
- Department of Internal Medicine V, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Hematology/Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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30
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Kim M, Williams S. Midostaurin in Combination With Standard Chemotherapy for Treatment of Newly Diagnosed FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 (FLT3) Mutation–Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Ann Pharmacother 2017; 52:364-369. [DOI: 10.1177/1060028017747900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miryoung Kim
- The Arthur G James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sherry Williams
- The Arthur G James Cancer Hospital at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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31
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Luskin MR, DeAngelo DJ. Midostaurin/PKC412 for the treatment of newly diagnosed FLT3 mutation-positive acute myeloid leukemia. Expert Rev Hematol 2017; 10:1033-1045. [PMID: 29069942 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2017.1397510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with inadequate treatment options. Approximately one-third of cases have a FLT3-ITD or FLT3-TKD mutation which leads to constitutive tyrosine kinase activation which contributes to leukemogenesis. The FLT3-ITD mutation is associated with a particularly poor prognosis. Midostaurin is a multi-kinase inhibitor active against the FLT3 receptor. Midostaurin was approved by the US FDA in April 2017 for treatment of newly diagnosed FLT3-mutant AML in combination with chemotherapy. Areas covered: Standard treatment of FLT3-mutant AML and outcomes. Early clinical development of midostaurin including pharmacokinetics and metabolism. The development of midostaurin in FLT3-mutant AML is then outlined including review of the phase I, II, and III trials of midostaurin as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy. Expert commentary: The approval of midostaurin represents the first new therapy for AML in several decades. It is also the first targeted therapy approved for AML. Future studies will focus on defining mechanisms of resistance to midostaurin as well as establishing the role of midostaurin in combination with hypomethylating agents and as maintenance therapy. Second generation, more potent and selective FLT3 inhibitors are also in development; these agents need to be compared to midostaurin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlise R Luskin
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , Boston , MA , USA.,b Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Daniel J DeAngelo
- a Department of Medical Oncology , Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , Boston , MA , USA.,b Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
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32
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Taylor SJ, Langdon WY. Sleeping through the storm: Preventing myelosuppression with quizartinib. Oncotarget 2017; 8:88255-88256. [PMID: 29179431 PMCID: PMC5687601 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Taylor
- Wallace Y. Langdon: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Wallace Y Langdon
- Wallace Y. Langdon: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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33
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Kayser S, Levis MJ, Schlenk RF. Midostaurin treatment in FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia and systemic mastocytosis. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2017; 10:1177-1189. [PMID: 28960095 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2017.1387051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A number of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed that inhibit the constitutively activated kinase activity caused by activating tyrosine kinase mutations, such as FLT3 or KIT, thus interrupting signaling pathways. Currently, midostaurin is the only approved TKI as monotherapy for aggressive systemic mastocytosis (SM), SM with associated hematological neoplasm, or mast cell leukemia displaying a KIT mutation as well as in combination with standard intensive chemotherapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Areas covered: We provide a concise review of the pharmacology, tolerability and clinical efficacy of midostaurin and emerging new treatment options for ASM and FLT3-mutated AML. Expert commentary: Currently, midostaurin is the only approved TKI in aggressive SM, SM with associated hematological neoplasm, or mast cell leukemia inducing responses including complete remissions. With regard to AML, midostaurin is the first drug to receive regulatory approval in this indication in the molecularly defined subgroup of AML with FLT3 mutations. By introduction of this new standard in AML with FLT3 mutations, the bare has been raised for future approvals of next generation FLT3 inhibitors which will be based increasingly on head to head comparisons with midostaurin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Kayser
- a Department of Internal Medicine V , University Hospital of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.,b Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Hematology/Oncology , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Department of Internal Medicine V, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Mark J Levis
- c Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center , Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA
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Chen X, Zhang J, Yuan L, Lay Y, Wong YK, Lim TK, Ong CS, Lin Q, Wang J, Hua Z. Andrographolide Suppresses MV4-11 Cell Proliferation through the Inhibition of FLT3 Signaling, Fatty Acid Synthesis and Cellular Iron Uptake. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22091444. [PMID: 28858244 PMCID: PMC6151431 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22091444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Andrographolide (ADR), the main active component of Andrographis paniculata, displays anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines, among which leukemia cell lines exhibit the highest sensitivity to ADR. In particular, ADR was also reported to have reduced drug resistance in multidrug resistant cell lines. However, the mechanism of action (MOA) of ADR’s anticancer and anti-drug-resistance activities remain elusive. Methods: In this study, we used the MV4-11 cell line, a FLT3 positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line that displays multidrug resistance, as our experimental system. We first evaluated the effect of ADR on MV4-11 cell proliferation. Then, a quantitative proteomics approach was applied to identify differentially expressed proteins in ADR-treated MV4-11 cells. Finally, cellular processes and signal pathways affected by ADR in MV4-11 cell were predicted with proteomic analysis and validated with in vitro assays. Results: ADR inhibits MV4-11 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. With a proteomic approach, we discovered that ADR inhibited fatty acid synthesis, cellular iron uptake and FLT3 signaling pathway in MV4-11 cells. Conclusions: ADR inhibits MV4-11 cell proliferation through inhibition of fatty acid synthesis, iron uptake and protein synthesis. Furthermore, ADR reduces drug resistance by blocking FLT3 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Jianbin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, China.
| | - Lixia Yuan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Yifei Lay
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
| | - Yin Kwan Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
| | - Teck Kwang Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
| | - Chye Sun Ong
- Institute of Mental Health, Education Office, Singapore 539747, Singapore.
| | - Qingsong Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
| | - Jigang Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore.
- Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University, Institute of Biotechnology, Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute and Jiangsu Target Pharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou 213164, China.
| | - Zichun Hua
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
- Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University, Institute of Biotechnology, Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute and Jiangsu Target Pharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou 213164, China.
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Nguyen B, Williams AB, Young DJ, Ma H, Li L, Levis M, Brown P, Small D. FLT3 activating mutations display differential sensitivity to multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Oncotarget 2017; 8:10931-10944. [PMID: 28077790 PMCID: PMC5355235 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that normally functions in hematopoietic cell survival, proliferation and differentiation. Constitutively activating mutations of FLT3 map predominately to the juxtamembrane domain (internal tandem duplications; ITD) or the activation loop (AL) of the kinase domain and are detected in about 1/3 of de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) effectively target FLT3/ITD mutations, but some activating mutations, particularly those on the AL, are relatively resistant to many FLT3 TKI. We reproduced many of the AL or other non-ITD activating mutations and tested 13 FLT3 TKI for their activity against these and wild-type FLT3. All 13 TKI tested inhibited BaF3/ITD cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner as reported, but most TKI exhibited a wide range of differential activity against AL and other point mutants. Western blotting results examining inhibition of FLT3 autophosphorylation and signaling pathways indicate that many AL mutations reduce TKI binding. Most FLT3 TKI effectively target wild-type FLT3 signaling. As a demonstration of this differential activity, treatment of BaF3 D835Y cells transplanted in BALB/c mice with sorafenib showed no effect in vivo against this mutant whereas lestaurtinib proved effective at reducing disease burden. Thus, while FLT3 TKI have been selected based on their ability to inhibit FLT3/ITD, the selection of appropriate TKI for AML patients with FLT3 AL and other activating point mutations requires personalized consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Nguyen
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allen B Williams
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David J Young
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hayley Ma
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark Levis
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Patrick Brown
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Donald Small
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Pediatrics Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Sorafenib Therapy for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia with FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 3-internal Tandem Duplication Mutations: 2 Case Reports. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2017; 39:e199-e202. [PMID: 27571118 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000000672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sorafenib is a promising agent for treating pediatric refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibiting FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD); however, its optimal use needs to be established. We report 2 cases of refractory pediatric FLT3-ITD-positive AML treated with sorafenib. Case 1 underwent stem cell transplantation (SCT) without entering remission, despite the use of chemotherapy. This patient relapsed despite receiving post-SCT sorafenib. Chemotherapy combined with sorafenib successfully achieved complete remission in case 2. This patient received post-SCT sorafenib and remains in complete remission. The combination of pre-SCT and post-SCT sorafenib may thus be effective for pediatric refractory FLT3-ITD-positive AML.
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Knapper S, Russell N, Gilkes A, Hills RK, Gale RE, Cavenagh JD, Jones G, Kjeldsen L, Grunwald MR, Thomas I, Konig H, Levis MJ, Burnett AK. A randomized assessment of adding the kinase inhibitor lestaurtinib to first-line chemotherapy for FLT3-mutated AML. Blood 2017; 129:1143-1154. [PMID: 27872058 PMCID: PMC5364440 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-07-730648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical benefit of adding FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3)-directed small molecule therapy to standard first-line treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has not yet been established. As part of the UK AML15 and AML17 trials, patients with previously untreated AML and confirmed FLT3-activating mutations, mostly younger than 60 years, were randomly assigned either to receive oral lestaurtinib (CEP701) or not after each of 4 cycles of induction and consolidation chemotherapy. Lestaurtinib was commenced 2 days after completing chemotherapy and administered in cycles of up to 28 days. The trials ran consecutively. Primary endpoints were overall survival in AML15 and relapse-free survival in AML17; outcome data were meta-analyzed. Five hundred patients were randomly assigned between lestaurtinib and control: 74% had FLT3-internal tandem duplication mutations, 23% FLT3-tyrosine kinase domain point mutations, and 2% both types. No significant differences were seen in either 5-year overall survival (lestaurtinib 46% vs control 45%; hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI 0.70-1.15; P = .3) or 5-year relapse-free survival (40% vs 36%; hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI 0.69-1.12; P = .3). Exploratory subgroup analysis suggested survival benefit with lestaurtinib in patients receiving concomitant azole antifungal prophylaxis and gemtuzumab ozogamicin with the first course of chemotherapy. Correlative studies included analysis of in vivo FLT3 inhibition by plasma inhibitory activity assay and indicated improved overall survival and significantly reduced rates of relapse in lestaurtinib-treated patients who achieved sustained greater than 85% FLT3 inhibition. In conclusion, combining lestaurtinib with intensive chemotherapy proved feasible in younger patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-mutated AML, but yielded no overall clinical benefit. The improved clinical outcomes seen in patients achieving sustained FLT3 inhibition encourage continued evaluation of FLT3-directed therapy alongside front-line AML treatment. The UK AML15 and AML17 trials are registered at www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17161961 and www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN55675535 respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Knapper
- Department of Haematology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel Russell
- Department of Haematology, Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Gilkes
- Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Robert K Hills
- Centre for Trials Research, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary E Gale
- Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom; Department of Haematology, Bart's Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - James D Cavenagh
- Department of Haematology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Gail Jones
- Department of Haematology, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Kjeldsen
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael R Grunwald
- Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC
| | - Ian Thomas
- Centre for Trials Research, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Heiko Konig
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN; and
| | - Mark J Levis
- Division of Hematological Malignancies, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - Alan K Burnett
- Department of Haematology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Català A, Pastor-Anglada M, Caviedes-Cárdenas L, Malatesta R, Rives S, Vega-García N, Camós M, Fernández-Calotti P. FLT3 is implicated in cytarabine transport by human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 in pediatric acute leukemia. Oncotarget 2016; 7:49786-49799. [PMID: 27391351 PMCID: PMC5226548 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
FLT3 abnormalities are negative prognostic markers in acute leukemia. Infant leukemias are a subgroup with frequent MLL (KMT2A) rearrangements, FLT3 overexpression and high sensitivity to cytarabine, but dismal prognosis. Cytarabine is transported into cells by Human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter-1 (hENT1, SLC29A1), but the mechanisms that regulate hENT1 in acute leukemia have been scarcely studied.We explored the expression and functional link between FLT3 and main cytarabine transporters in 50 pediatric patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and MLL rearrangement (ALL-MLL+) and other subtypes of leukemia, and in leukemia cell lines.A significant positive correlation was found between FLT3 and hENT1 expression in patients. Cytarabine uptake into cells was mediated mainly by hENT1, hENT2 and hCNT1. hENT1-mediated uptake of cytarabine was transiently abolished by the FLT3 inhibitor PKC412, and this effect was associated with decreased hENT1 mRNA and protein levels. Noticeably, the cytotoxicity of cytarabine was lower when cells were first exposed to FLT3 inhibitors (PKC412 or AC220), probably due to decreased hENT1 activity, but we observed a higher cytotoxic effect if FLT3 inhibitors were administered after cytarabine.FLT3 regulates hENT1 activity and thereby affects cytarabine cytotoxicity. The sequence of administration of cytarabine and FLT3 inhibitors is important to maintain their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Català
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- National Biomedical Research Institute on Rare Diseases (CIBER ER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marçal Pastor-Anglada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
- Oncology Program, National Biomedical Research Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBER EHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Liska Caviedes-Cárdenas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberta Malatesta
- Hematology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Rives
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- National Biomedical Research Institute on Rare Diseases (CIBER ER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nerea Vega-García
- Hematology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Camós
- National Biomedical Research Institute on Rare Diseases (CIBER ER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Hematology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Fernández-Calotti
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Barcelona, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
- Oncology Program, National Biomedical Research Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBER EHD), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (IRP-HSJD), Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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Lee EM, Yee D, Busfield SJ, McManus JF, Cummings N, Vairo G, Wei A, Ramshaw HS, Powell JA, Lopez AF, Lewis ID, McCall MN, Lock RB. Efficacy of an Fc-modified anti-CD123 antibody (CSL362) combined with chemotherapy in xenograft models of acute myelogenous leukemia in immunodeficient mice. Haematologica 2016; 100:914-26. [PMID: 26130514 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2014.113092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of older patients with acute myelogenous leukemia is generally poor. The interleukin-3 receptor α-chain (CD123) is highly expressed on the surface of acute leukemia cells compared with normal hematopoietic stem cells. CSL362 is a fully humanized, CD123-neutralizing monoclonal antibody containing a modified Fc structure, which enhances human natural killer cell antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Six continuous acute myelogenous leukemia xenografts established from patient explants and characterized by cell and molecular criteria, produced progressively lethal disease 42-202 days after transplantation. CSL362 alone reduced engraftment of one of four and three of four acute myelogenous leukemia xenografts in the bone marrow and peripheral organs, respectively. A cytarabine and daunorubicin regimen was optimized using this model to identify potentially synergistic interactions with CSL362. Cytarabine/daunorubicin improved the survival of mice engrafted with four of four acute myelogenous leukemia xenografts by 31-41 days. Moreover, CSL362 extended the survival of cytarabine/daunorubicin-treated mice for two of two acute myelogenous leukemia xenografts, while augmentation of natural killer cell-deficient NSG mice with adoptively transferred human natural killer cells improved survival against a single xenograft. Interestingly, this enhanced CSL362 efficacy was lost in the absence of chemotherapy. This study shows that acute myelogenous leukemia xenografts provide a platform for the evaluation of new therapeutics, simulating complex in vivo interactions, and that the in vivo efficacy of CSL362 supports continued clinical development of this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin M Lee
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dean Yee
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Julie F McManus
- Department of Microbiology, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nik Cummings
- Department of Haematology, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Andrew Wei
- Department of Haematology, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hayley S Ramshaw
- The Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jason A Powell
- The Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Angel F Lopez
- The Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ian D Lewis
- Division of Haematology and Centre for Cancer Biology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Martin N McCall
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard B Lock
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
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The combination of FLT3 and DNA methyltransferase inhibition is synergistically cytotoxic to FLT3/ITD acute myeloid leukemia cells. Leukemia 2015; 30:1025-32. [PMID: 26686245 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2015.346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Effective treatment regimens for elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients harboring internal tandem duplication mutations in the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) gene (FLT3/ITD) are lacking and represent a significant unmet need. Recent data on the effects of FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors on FLT3/ITD(+) AML showed promising clinical activity, including in elderly patients. DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors such as decitabine (5-aza-2-deoxycytidine, DEC) and 5-azacitidine (AZA) demonstrated clinical benefit in AML, are well tolerated and are associated with minimal increases in FLT3 ligand, which can represent a potential resistance mechanism to FLT3 inhibitors. In addition, both FLT3 and DNMT inhibition are associated with the induction of terminal differentiation of myeloid blasts. Consequently, there is a strong theoretical rationale for combining FLT3 and DNMT inhibition for FLT3/ITD(+) AML. We therefore sought to study the anti-leukemic effects of DEC, AZA and FLT3 inhibitors, either as single agents or in combination, on AML cell lines and primary cells derived from newly diagnosed and relapsed AML patients. Our studies indicate that combined treatment using FLT3 inhibition and hypomethylation confers synergistic anti-leukemic effects, including apoptosis, growth inhibition and differentiation. The simultaneous administration of AZA and FLT3 inhibition appears to be the most efficacious combination in this regard. These drugs may provide a novel therapeutic approach for FLT3/ITD(+) AML, in particular for older patients.
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Badar T, Kantarjian HM, Nogueras-Gonzalez GM, Borthakur G, Garcia Manero G, Andreeff M, Konopleva M, Kadia TM, Daver N, Wierda WG, Luthra R, Patel K, Oran B, Champlin R, Ravandi F, Cortes JE. Improvement in clinical outcome of FLT3 ITD mutated acute myeloid leukemia patients over the last one and a half decade. Am J Hematol 2015; 90:1065-70. [PMID: 26299958 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.24140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
AML with FLT3 ITD mutations are associated with poor outcome. We reviewed outcomes of patients with FLT3 ITD mutated AML to investigate trends over time. We analyzed 224 AML patients (excluding patients with core binding factor and acute promyelocytic leukemia) referred to our institution between 2000 and 2014. Patients were divided into five cohorts by era: 2000-2002 (Era 1, n = 19), 2003-2005 (Era 2, n = 41), 2006-2008 (Era 3, n = 53), 2009-2011 (Era 4, n = 55), and 2012-2014 (Era 5, n = 56) to analyze differences in outcome. The baseline characteristics were not statistically different across Eras. The response rate (CR/CRp) from Era 1-5 was 68%, 49%, 72%, 73%, and 75%, respectively. The overall response rate (all Eras) with chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus FLT3 inhibitor was 67% and 72.5%, respectively (P = 0.4). The median time to relapse was 6, 3.6, 7.9, 8.1 months and not reached from Eras 1 through 5, respectively (P = 0.001). The median OS has improved: 9.6, 7.6, 14.4, 15.7, and 17.8 month from Eras 1-5, respectively (P = <0.001). Stem cell transplant as a time-dependent variable, showed better OS in the univariate analysis (HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.84, P = 0.004) but did not retained its significance in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.50-1.13, P = 0.16). Our data suggest improvement in outcome of FLT3 ITD mutated AML patients over the last 15 years. This is probably due to improvement in treatment strategies, including but not limited to integration of FLT3 inhibitors and increased use of SCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talha Badar
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Hagop M. Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | | | - Gautam Borthakur
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | | | - Michael Andreeff
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Marina Konopleva
- Department of Leukemia, Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Tapan M. Kadia
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Naval Daver
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - William G. Wierda
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Raja Luthra
- Department of Leukemia, Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Keyur Patel
- Department of Leukemia, Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Betul Oran
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Richard Champlin
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
| | - Jorge E. Cortes
- Department of Leukemia; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Houston Texas
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Abstract
FLT3/ITD acute myeloid leukemia is a poor prognosis disease driven by a constitutively activated receptor tyrosine kinase, making it an obvious target for drug development. The development of clinically effective FLT3 inhibitors has been slow, in part because many are multi-targeted inhibitors that are not selective or specific for FLT3. Quizartinib is the first small molecule FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitor expressly developed as a FLT3 inhibitor. It is potent, selective and has ideal pharmacokinetics in comparison to other compounds previously tested. This article summarizes its advantages and limitations, and details the insights into the biology of the disease that have been uncovered through the laboratory and clinical use of quizartinib.
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Cooper BW, Kindwall-Keller TL, Craig MD, Creger RJ, Hamadani M, Tse WW, Lazarus HM. A phase I study of midostaurin and azacitidine in relapsed and elderly AML patients. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2015; 15:428-432.e2. [PMID: 25776192 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2015.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Midostaurin is a novel, orally available Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) tyrosine kinase inhibitor that induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of leukemic cells expressing mutant and wild type FLT3 receptors, and has shown potential synergism with cytotoxic chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a phase I study of azacitidine (intravenous 75 mg/m(2) daily for 7 days) with escalating doses of oral midostaurin (25 mg twice per day [b.i.d.], 50 mg b.i.d., and 75 mg b.i.d.) on days 8 to 21 of a 28-day cycle in untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in older patients and/or relapsed AML. Patients were eligible regardless of FLT3 mutation status. Trough blood samples for pharmacokinetics were obtained on days 8, 15, and 21 before midostaurin dosing. RESULTS Seventeen patients with a median age of 73 (range, 57-83) years were enrolled; 5 patients had previous conventional treatment and none of the patients had FLT3 mutations. Dose-limiting toxicities were not observed. Hospitalizations, primarily for infections, occurred in one-third of treatment cycles. Fourteen patients were evaluable for response: 3 attained complete remission and 2 had hematologic improvement. Median (range) survival from enrollment was 6 (1 to ≥ 19) months. Three patients died within 60 days of enrollment (2 progressive disease, 1 non-dose-limiting toxicity, treatment-related). Pharmacokinetic data at 75 mg orally b.i.d. showed increased trough levels of midostaurin during cycle 2 compared with cycle 1 and persistent and increasing levels of its active metabolite, CGP52421. CONCLUSION The combination of sequential azacitidine and midostaurin is safe and tolerable with response rates comparable with azacitidine alone and should be studied further in FLT3 mutation-positive AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda W Cooper
- Department of Medicine, Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
| | - Tamila L Kindwall-Keller
- Department of Medicine, Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
| | - Michael D Craig
- Hematopoietic Malignancy and Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
| | - Richard J Creger
- Department of Medicine, Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
| | - Mehdi Hamadani
- Hematopoietic Malignancy and Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
| | - William W Tse
- Hematopoietic Malignancy and Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
| | - Hillard M Lazarus
- Department of Medicine, Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals, Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
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Bhatnagar B, Garzon R. The use of molecular genetics to refine prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 2015; 9:148-57. [PMID: 24659319 DOI: 10.1007/s11899-014-0208-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The discovery and application of advanced molecular techniques, such as gene and microRNA expression profiling, whole genome and exome sequencing, proteomic analysis and methylation assays, have allowed for the identification of recurrent molecular abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that have revolutionized our understanding of the genetic landscape of the disease. These modalities have emerged as valuable tools that permit a more comprehensive and detailed molecular characterization of AML. Many of these molecular abnormalities have been shown to predict prognosis, particularly within the context of cytogenetically normal AML. This review will discuss the major techniques and platforms that have been used to identify novel recurrent gene mutations in AML and briefly describe how these discoveries have impacted on outcome prediction.
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Yang H, Lawrence HR, Kazi A, Gevariya H, Patel R, Luo Y, Rix U, Schonbrunn E, Lawrence NJ, Sebti SM. Dual Aurora A and JAK2 kinase blockade effectively suppresses malignant transformation. Oncotarget 2015; 5:2947-61. [PMID: 24930769 PMCID: PMC4102782 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.1615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Aurora A and JAK2 kinases are involved in cell division and tumor cell survival, respectively. Here we demonstrate that ectopic expression of Aurora A and JAK2 together is more effective than each alone at inducing non-transformed cells to grow in an anchorage-independent manner and to invade. Furthermore, siRNA silencing or pharmacological inhibition of Aurora A and JAK2 with Alisertib and Ruxolitinib, respectively, is more effective than blocking each kinase alone at suppressing anchorage-dependent and –independent growth and invasion as well as at inducing apoptosis. Importantly, we have developed dual Aurora and JAK inhibitors, AJI-214 and AJI-100, which potently inhibit Aurora A, Aurora B and JAK2 in vitro. In human cancer cells, these dual inhibitors block the auto-phosphorylation of Aurora A (Thr-288) and the phosphorylation of the Aurora B substrate histone H3 (Ser-10) and the JAK2 substrate STAT3 (Tyr-705). Furthermore, AJI-214 and AJI-100 inhibit anchorage dependent and independent cell growth and invasion and induce G2/M cell cycle accumulation and apoptosis. Finally, AJI-100 caused regression of human tumor xenografts in mice. Taken together, our genetic and pharmacological studies indicate that targeting Aurora A and JAK2 together is a more effective approach than each kinase alone at inhibiting malignant transformation and warrant further advanced pre clinical investigations of dual Aurora A/JAK2 inhibitors as potential anti tumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Yang
- Drug Discovery Department, Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Chemical Biology Core Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW 'FMS'-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been brought from discovery in the early 1990s to clinical targeting in the past 10 years. Despite several promising leads in preclinical models, no agent has yet been approved for clinical use. Here we will review the development of novel therapies for AML with FLT3 mutations. RECENT FINDINGS Initial clinical development focused on broad kinase inhibitors which were found to have limited clinical activity due to insufficient kinase inhibitory activity and high toxicity. Subsequent development has brought forth narrow-spectrum inhibitors with potent in-vivo activity and reasonable clinical tolerance, but many patients still progress with prolonged use. SUMMARY The optimal role for targeting FLT3 may depend on multimodality therapy and will likely require hematopoietic transplant. The incorporation of ABL kinase inhibitors into acute lymphoblastic leukemia management should serve as a model for incorporation of FLT3-targeted agents into clinical care. Strategies incorporating FLT3-targeted agents into AML therapy are ongoing, but challenges in trial design, clinical heterogeneity and need for long-term follow-up make these investigations complicated in design and implementation.
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Annesley CE, Brown P. The Biology and Targeting of FLT3 in Pediatric Leukemia. Front Oncol 2014; 4:263. [PMID: 25295230 PMCID: PMC4172015 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite remarkable improvement in treatment outcomes in pediatric leukemia over the past several decades, the prognosis for high-risk groups of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), as well as for relapsed leukemia, remains poor. Intensification of chemotherapy regimens for those at highest risk has improved success rates, but at the cost of significantly increased morbidity and long-term adverse effects. With the success of imatinib in Philadelphia-chromosome-positive leukemia and all-trans retinoic acid in acute promyelocytic leukemia, the quest to find additional molecularly targeted therapies has generated much excitement over recent years. Another such possible target in pediatric acute leukemia is FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3). FLT3 aberrations are among the most frequently identified transforming events in AML, and have significant clinical implications in both high-risk pediatric AML and in certain high-risk groups of pediatric ALL. Therefore, the successful targeting of FLT3 has tremendous potential to improve outcomes in these subsets of patients. This article will give an overview of the molecular function and signaling of the FLT3 receptor, as well as its pathogenic role in leukemia. We review the discovery of targeting FLT3, discuss currently available FLT3 inhibitors in pediatric leukemia and results of clinical trials to date, and finally, consider the future promise and challenges of FLT3 inhibitor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen E. Annesley
- Oncology and Pediatrics, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Patrick Brown
- Oncology and Pediatrics, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kadia TM, Ravandi F, O'Brien S, Cortes J, Kantarjian HM. Progress in acute myeloid leukemia. CLINICAL LYMPHOMA MYELOMA & LEUKEMIA 2014; 15:139-51. [PMID: 25441110 DOI: 10.1016/j.clml.2014.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Steady gains in clinical research and a renaissance of genomics in leukemia have led to improved outcomes. The recognition of tremendous heterogeneity in AML has allowed individualized treatments of specific disease entities within the context of patient age, cytogenetics, and mutational analysis. The following is a comprehensive review of the current state of AML therapy and a roadmap of our approach to these distinct disease entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan M Kadia
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
| | - Farhad Ravandi
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Susan O'Brien
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Jorge Cortes
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Hagop M Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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50
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Approximately 23% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients younger than 60 years of age carry a mutation in the transmembrane domain of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) gene (FLT3/internal tandem duplications [ITD]). In normal karyotype AML, the presence of a FLT3/ITD mutation is associated with poor prognosis, as mirrored by a high risk of relapse even after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The poor prognostic impact along with the observation that FLT3 is frequently overexpressed in the majority of AML cases has formed the platform for the development of FLT3-targeted strategies. To date, several FLT3 kinase inhibitors have been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. However, as of yet, none of the studied FLT3 inhibitors has received FDA approval for routine clinical use in AML. This is in part due to the 'off target' effects observed with most inhibitors when administered at concentrations needed to achieve sustained levels of FLT3 inhibition, which are required to exhibit substantial cytotoxic effects against leukemic blasts. Furthermore, the development of resistance mutations has emerged as a clinical issue posing a threat to successful FLT3 inhibitor therapy. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors provide a brief summary of FLT3 inhibitors investigated thus far, and discuss current treatment approaches and strategies how to best incorporate FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) into therapy. EXPERT OPINION The combination of a FLT3 inhibitor with conventional chemotherapeutic regimens, epigenetic modifiers or inhibitors of FLT3 downstream and collateral effectors has emerged as a promising strategy to improve treatment outcome. The future of a tailored, molecular-based treatment approach for FLT3-mutated AML demands novel clinical trial concepts based on harmonized and aligned research goals between clinical and research centers and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko Konig
- Johns Hopkins University, Medical Oncology , 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD , USA
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