The Future of Targeting FLT3 Activation in AML

Curr Hematol Malig Rep. 2017 Jun;12(3):153-167. doi: 10.1007/s11899-017-0381-2.

Abstract

Internal tandem duplications (ITD) and tyrosine-kinase domain (TKD) mutations of the FMS-like tyrosine-kinase 3 (FLT3) can be found in up to one third of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and confer a poor prognosis. First discovered 20 years ago, these mutations were identified as viable therapeutic targets, and FLT3 tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been in development for the last decade with steadily increasing potency. However, FLT3-mutated AML often acquires resistance to the growing armamentarium of FLT3 inhibitors through a variety of mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the distinct clinical phenotype of FLT3-mutated AML, historically and currently available therapeutics, mechanisms of resistance, ongoing trials, and future outlook at treatment strategies.

Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML); FLT3; Tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Mutation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences
  • Treatment Outcome
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / genetics
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3