ABSTRACT
Introduction
Despite the prognosis of patients affected by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) improved in the last decade, most patients relapse. Maintenance therapy after a chemotherapy approach with or without allogeneic stem cell transplantation could be a way to control the undetectable residual burden of leukemic cells. Several studies are being carried out as maintenance therapy in AML. Some critical points need to be defined, how the physician can choose among the various drugs available.
Areas covered
This review discusses the advances and controversies surrounding maintenance therapy for AML patients.
Expert opinion
Patients withFLT3-positive AML should receive midostaurin or quizartinib in the first-linesetting. For a patient initially receiving midostaurin, consider switching to sorafenib in the post-transplant setting. Because of the improved safety profile and potency, many experts will lean toward using a second-generation FLT3 inhibitor such as quizartinib or gilteritinib. Finally, no data indicate whether maintenance therapy should be prolonged until progression or for a defined period.
Article highlights
Development of maintenance therapy with the use of FLT3 inhibitors post allo-SCT.
Promising results obtained from the IDH inhibitors ivosidenib and enasidenib.
Several other approaches are being explored, including novel targeted agents, immunotherapy, and CAR T-cell to improve the outcomes of AML.
Patients with FLT3-positive AML should receive MIDO or QUIZA in the first-line setting.
Several maintenance treatment approaches based on HMAs, and targeted small molecules have been explored in AML.
Declaration of interest
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
Reviewer disclosures
One reviewer has received consulting fees, research fees, or honorarium from Jazz, Abbvie, BMS, and Aptitude health. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.