midostaurin and glasdegib

Since 2017 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved glasdegib, venetoclax, ivosidenib, midostaurin, CPX- 351, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) to treat persons with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has done likewise for midostaurin, CPX-351, and GO. While increasing options for persons, particularly older ones, for whom current therapy is unsatisfactory, or simply not given, these approvals raise several concerns. Although the venetoclax and glasdegib approvals were for persons considered "unfit" for intensive induction, the criteria for fitness were not well defined (age ≥75 per se being insufficient) and are frequently subjective, making it likely that many subjects in the venetoclax and glasdegib registration trials were fit for intensive induction; for example, none had performance status 3-4. Fitness must be assessed together with the potential efficacy of a proposed therapy. We note the modest complete remission rates and durations in the venetoclax + hypomethylating agent trial. Although these formed the basis for FDA approval, it is unclear that better results might not have obtained with more intense induction, as several studies, with considerably longer-follow up, have suggested. Hence, we question the venetoclax (and glasdegib) approvals absent randomized comparisons with intense induction. Given the uncertain relation in older individuals between survival and complete remission (CR), much less responses less than CR, we are skeptical of the sole use of these responses in the ivosidenib and venetoclax approvals; we also question the use of survival, without event-free survival, in the glasdegib approval. Noting the midostaurin and CPX-351 approvals included populations not participating in the registration studies we suggest means to address this issue as well as those involving fitness, randomization, and endpoints.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Benzimidazoles; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Drug Approval; Gemtuzumab; Glycine; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Phenylurea Compounds; Pyridines; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Staurosporine; Sulfonamides; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is primarily a disease of older adults. Many older patients with AML are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy regimens aimed at inducing remission before transplantation. The prognosis for this patient population remains poor, with 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of less than 10 %. At present, there is no standard of care, and clinical trials should be considered. Hypomethylating agents often are the mainstay of treatment in this setting; however, improved genetic profiling and risk stratification based on molecular, biological, and clinical characteristics of AML enhance the ability to identify an individual patient's risk and can refine therapeutic options. Over the past 2 years, several novel agents have been approved for AML patients in either the frontline or relapsed settings. Additional agents have also shown promising activity. It is becoming a challenge for physicians to navigate these different options and select the optimal therapy or combination of therapies. The aim of this review is to summarize the available information to assist with treatment decisions for leukemia patients who are not suitable for intensive chemotherapy.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Azacitidine; Benzimidazoles; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Cytarabine; Decitabine; Gemtuzumab; Glycine; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Phenylurea Compounds; Precision Medicine; Pyridines; Recurrence; Remission Induction; Staurosporine; Sulfonamides

Among elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially those who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy, a policy of reduced-intensity chemotherapy or conservative observation has been chosen, resulting in unmet medical needs. Clinical trials using anticancer drugs including antimetabolites or drugs targeted to cell cycle-related molecules failed to show superiority over conventional treatments. Recently, drugs targeted to Bcl-2, SMO, FLT3, and IDH1/2 have been shown to prolong overall survival alone or in combination with reduced-intensity chemotherapy. These treatments are likely to reshape the therapeutic landscape of AML, which will be personalized for individual patients based on leukemia genetics.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aminopyridines; Aniline Compounds; Antineoplastic Agents; Arsenic Trioxide; Azacitidine; Benzimidazoles; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Decitabine; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3; Humans; Isocitrate Dehydrogenase; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Phenylurea Compounds; Precision Medicine; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Pyrazines; Smoothened Receptor; Staurosporine; Sulfonamides; Survival Rate; Tretinoin; Triazines

Several small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) have been recently approved for AML patients. These targeted therapies could be more tolerable than classical antineoplastics, but potential drug-drug interactions (DDI) are relatively frequent. Underestimation or lack of appropriate awareness and management of DDIs with SMIs can jeopardize therapeutic success in AML patients, which often require multiple concomitant medications in the context of prior comorbidities or for the prevention and treatment of infectious and other complications. In this systematic review, we analyze DDIs of glasdegib, venetoclax, midostaurin, quizartinib, gilteritinib, enasidenib, and ivosidenib. CYP3A4 is the main enzyme responsible for SMIs metabolism, and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such azoles, could increase drug exposure and toxicity; therefore dose adjustments (venetoclax, quizartinib, and ivosidenib) or alternative therapies or close monitoring (glasdegib, midostaurin, and gilteritinib) are recommended. Besides, coadministration of strong CYP3A4 inducers with SMIs should be avoided due to potential decrease of efficacy. Regarding tolerability, QTc prolongation is frequently observed for most of approved SMIs, and drugs with a potential to prolong the QTc interval and CYP3A4 inhibitors should be avoided and replaced by alternative treatments. In this study, we critically assess the DDIs of SMIs, and we summarize best management options for these new drugs and concomitant medications.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Benzimidazoles; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors; Drug Approval; Drug Interactions; Drugs, Investigational; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Long QT Syndrome; Phenylurea Compounds; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Staurosporine; Sulfonamides