FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia: Current and future

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christan M Thomas ◽  
Peter Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Significant Toxicity ◽  
Flt3 Mutations ◽  
Flt3 Inhibitors ◽  
Acute Myeloid

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is responsible for the proliferation and survival of hematopoietic stem cells in acute myeloid leukemia. Although patients with FLT3 mutations have similar rates of remission following induction chemotherapy, relapse rates are significantly higher and patients with FLT3 mutations have significantly worse outcomes for overall survival and disease-free survival. Early FLT3 inhibitors, such as sorafenib, were non-selective and inhibited several tyrosine kinase receptors resulting in significant toxicity. The treatment of FLT3-positive acute myeloid leukemia has advanced recently with the development of a several FLT3-targeting agents that are either approved or in development. Midostaurin represents the first FDA-approved treatment targeted against FLT3, and there are several promising agents currently undergoing clinical trials. Although certain mutations confer resistance to earlier generation FLT3-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors, newer agents show activity in the presence of these mutations.

Recent advances in FLT3 inhibitors for acute myeloid leukemia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 961-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lexian Tong ◽  
Xuemei Li ◽  
Yongzhou Hu ◽  
Tao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Clinical Stage ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Flt3 Mutations ◽  
Flt3 Inhibitors ◽  
Target Activity ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) mutations occur in approximately 30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, suggesting FLT3 as an attractive target for AML treatment. Early FLT3 inhibitors enhance antileukemia efficacy by inhibiting multiple targets, and thus had stronger off-target activity, increasing their toxicity. Recently, a number of potent and selective FLT3 inhibitors have been developed, many of which are effective against multiple mutations. This review outlines the evolution of AML-targeting FLT3 inhibitors by focusing on their chemotypes, selectivity and activity over FLT3 wild-type and FLT3 mutations as well as new techniques related to FLT3. Compounds that currently enter the late clinical stage or have entered the market are also briefly reported.

scholarly journals Emerging treatment paradigms with FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 204062071982731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Short ◽  
Hagop Kantarjian ◽  
Farhad Ravandi ◽  
Naval Daver
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
The United States ◽  
Efficacy Data ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Flt3 Mutations ◽  
Flt3 Inhibitors ◽  
Us Fda ◽  
Acute Myeloid

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.

scholarly journals Pim kinases modulate resistance to FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors in FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
pp. e1500221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexa S. Green ◽  
Thiago T. Maciel ◽  
Marie-Anne Hospital ◽  
Chae Yin ◽  
Fetta Mazed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Myeloproliferative Neoplasm ◽  
Pim Kinases ◽  
Flt3 Inhibitors ◽  
Long Term Prognosis ◽  
Acute Myeloid

ABSTRACTFms-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is frequently detected in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and is associated with a dismal long-term prognosis. FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors provide short-term disease control, but relapse invariably occurs within months. Pim protein kinases are oncogenic FLT3-ITD targets expressed in AML cells. We show that increased Pim kinase expression is found in relapse samples from AML patients treated with FLT3 inhibitors. Ectopic Pim-2 expression induces resistance to FLT3 inhibition in both FLT3-ITD–induced myeloproliferative neoplasm and AML models in mice. Strikingly, we found that Pim kinases govern FLT3-ITD signaling and that their pharmacological or genetic inhibition restores cell sensitivity to FLT3 inhibitors. Finally, dual inhibition of FLT3 and Pim kinases eradicates FLT3-ITD+ cells including primary AML cells. Concomitant Pim and FLT3 inhibition represents a promising new avenue for AML therapy.

scholarly journals Maintenance therapy for FLT3-ITD-mutated acute myeloid leukemia

Haematologica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Burchert
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Receptor ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Therapeutic Concept ◽  
Treatment Paradigm ◽  
Acute Myeloid

FLT3-ITD is a constitutively activated variant of the FLT3 tyrosine kinase receptor. Its expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with a poor prognosis. Due to this, the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) blocking FLT3-ITD became a rational therapeutic concept. This review describes key milestones in the clinical development of different FLT3-specific TKI with a particular focus on FLT3-TKI maintenance therapy in remission after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Recent evidence from randomized trials using sorafenib in FLT3-ITD mutated AML provided a proof of concept that targeted post-HCT maintenance therapy could become a new treatment paradigm in AML.

scholarly journals Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies regulators of MAPK and MTOR pathways mediating sorafenib resistance in acute myeloid leukemia

Haematologica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alisa Damnernsawad ◽  
Daniel Bottomly ◽  
Stephen E. Kurtz ◽  
Christopher A. Eide ◽  
Shannon K. McWeeney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Mek Inhibitors ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Flt3 Mutations ◽  
Flt3 Inhibitors ◽  
Crispr Screen ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Drug resistance impedes the long-term effect of targeted therapies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), necessitating the identification of mechanisms underlying resistance. Approximately 25% of AML patients carry FLT3 mutations and develop post-treatment insensitivity to FLT3 inhibitors, including sorafenib. Using a genome-wide CRISPR screen, we identified LZTR1, NF1, TSC1 or TSC2, negative regulators of the MAPK and MTOR pathways, as mediators of sorafenib resistance. Analyses of ex vivo drug sensitivity assays in FLT3-ITD AML patient samples revealed lower expression of LZTR1, NF1, and TSC2 correlated with sorafenib sensitivity. Importantly, MAPK and/or MTOR complex1 (MTORC1) activity were upregulated in AML cells made resistant to several FLT3 inhibitors, including crenolanib, quizartinib, or sorafenib. These cells were sensitive to MEK inhibitors, and the combination of FLT3 and MEK inhibitors showed enhanced efficacy, suggesting its effectiveness in AML patients with FLT3 mutations and those with resistance to FLT3 inhibitors.

scholarly journals An overview on the role of FLT3-tyrosine kinase receptor in acute myeloid leukemia: biology and treatment

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiziana Grafone ◽  
Michela Palmisano ◽  
Chiara Nicci ◽  
Sergio Storti
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Molecular Therapy ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Receptor ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Downstream Signaling ◽  
Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Hematopoiesis, the process by which the hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors differentiate into blood cells of various lineages, involves complex interactions of transcription factors that modulate the expression of downstream genes and mediate proliferation and differentiation signals. Despite the many controls that regulate hematopoiesis, mutations in the regulatory genes capable of promoting leukemogenesis may occur. The <em>FLT3</em> gene encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor that plays a key role in controlling survival, proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Mutations in this gene are critical in causing a deregulation of the delicate balance between cell proliferation and differentiation. In this review, we provide an update on the structure, synthesis and activation of the FLT3 receptor and the subsequent activation of multiple downstream signaling pathways. We also review activating FLT3 mutations that are frequently identified in acute myeloid leukemia, cause activation of more complex downstream signaling pathways and promote leukemogenesis. Finally, FLT3 has emerged as an important target for molecular therapy. We, therefore, report on some recent therapies directed against it.

Quizartinib in the treatment of FLT3-internal-tandem duplication-positive acute myeloid leukemia

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (34) ◽  
pp. 3885-3894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilpa Paul ◽  
Adam J DiPippo ◽  
Farhad Ravandi ◽  
Tapan M Kadia
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Tandem Duplication ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Domain ◽  
Missense Mutations ◽  
Internal Tandem Duplication ◽  
Acute Myeloid

FLT3 mutations, characterized by an internal-tandem duplication or missense mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain, are observed in a third of patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. FLT3-ITD mutations are associated with high relapse rates and short overall survival with conventional chemotherapy. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting FLT3 have been developed in an effort to improve survival and therapeutic options. This review focuses on quizartinib, a second-generation FLT3 inhibitor that has demonstrated efficacy and safety as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy. We discuss its clinical development as well as its place in the treatment of FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia among the other FLT3 inhibtors currently available and its mechanisms of resistance.

Distinct association of RUNX family expression with genetic alterations and clinical outcome in acute myeloid leukemia

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-397
Author(s):  
Yangli Zhao ◽  
Tingjuan Zhang ◽  
Yangjing Zhao ◽  
Jingdong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Frequent Event ◽  
Acute Myeloid

BACKGROUND: The runt-related transcription factor family (RUNXs) including RUNX1, RUNX2, and RUNX3 are key transcriptional regulators in normal hematopoiesis. RUNXs dysregulations caused by aberrant expression or mutation are frequently seen in various human cancers especially in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). OBJECTIVE: We systemically analyzed the expression of RUNXs and their relationship with clinic-pathological features and prognosis in AML patients. METHODS: Expression of RUNXs was analyzed between AML patients and normal controls from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) projects. Correlations between RUNXs expression and clinical features together with survival were further analyzed. RESULTS: All RUNXs expression in AML patients was significantly increased as compared with controls. RUNXs expression was found to be significantly associated with genetic abnormalities such as RUNX1 mutation, t(8;21) and inv(16)/t(16;16). By Kaplan-Meier analysis, only RUNX3 overexpression was associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) among non-M3 AML patients. Notably, in high RUNX3 expression groups, patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) had markedly better OS and DFS than patients without HSCT among both all AML and non-M3 AML. In low RUNX3 expression groups, there were no significant differences in OS and DFS between HSCT and non-HSCT groups among both all AML and non-M3 AML. In addition, a total of 835 differentially expressed genes and 69 differentially expressed microRNAs were identified to be correlated with RUNX3 expression in AML. CONCLUSION: RUNXs overexpression was a frequent event in AML, and was closely associated with diverse genetic alterations. Moreover, RUNX3 expression may be associated with clinical outcome, and helpful for guiding treatment choice between HSCT and chemotherapy in AML.

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