Trending Topic

Acute myeloid leukaemia
3 mins

Trending Topic

Developed by Touch
Mark CompleteCompleted
BookmarkBookmarked

“We are facing an exciting era of fast-paced drug development in acute myeloid leukaemia” writes Gianfranco Bittar and colleagues at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, in a review published in touchREVIEWS in Oncology & Haematology. In 2020, there were an estimated 21,450 new patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and 11,180 AML-related deaths […]

Advances in triplet therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia: Insights from ASH 2022

touchHAEMATOLOGY
Share
Facebook
X (formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn
Via Email
Mark CompleteCompleted
BookmarkBookmarked
Copy LinkLink Copied
Published Online: Feb 22nd 2023
Select a Section…
1

Article

Frontline treatment with azacitidine plus venetoclax (AZA/VEN) significantly improved remission rates and survival duration for older, frail and high-risk patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in the pivotal VIALE-A trial.1 The combination is approved for use in this setting,2 but longer-term survival remains suboptimal.3 At ASH 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana, several studies aimed to improve outcomes for challenging patient populations by combining novel agents with an AZA/VEN backbone. Prof. Jorge Cortes provided an overview of these and other studies he found particularly interesting.

A phase I/II trial of a triplet with magrolimab plus AZA/VEN showed encouraging complete response rates in newly diagnosed, chemotherapy-ineligible, high-risk patients (n=41).4 Magrolimab is an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody that inhibits CD47 thereby blocking the CD47 antiphagocytic ‘don’t eat me’ signal. It previously showed modest activity as a single agent.5 “Very importantly,” said Prof. Cortes, “it did have activity in patients that have TP53 mutation, which is an area of great need.” TP53 mutations are associated with high risk in AML, and individuals with TP53-mutated disease have poor outcomes with current standard therapies.6 The overall response rate (ORR) in 27 patients with TP53 mutation was 74% versus 93% for 14 patients with wild-type TP53. Safety analyses showed 24% of patients with grade ≥3 anaemia. A phase 3 study is currently underway in newly diagnosed patients who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy (NCT05079230).

Another phase I/II trial presented at the meeting evaluated an AZA/VEN backbone combined with the CD123-targeted antibody–drug conjugate pivekimab sunirine in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML.7 “This is attractive because it’s a completely different mechanism of action,” said Prof. Cortes, noting that the drug has a very novel payload. Upon binding to CD123, the drug’s indolinobenzodiazepine pseudodimer payload induces single stand breaks in tumour DNA. Data from 61 evaluable patients in the higher intensity cohort showed an ORR of 51% and a complete remission rate of 31% as of June 20, 2022. Responses were more positive in patients who were venetoclax-naïve at baseline (ORR 62%). Results showed a manageable safety profile that included neutropenia and infusion reactions.

Professor Cortes also commented on the large, randomized NCRI AML19 trial of frontline fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin (FLAG-IDA) in younger, fit patients with newly diagnosed AML (n=1475). Optimal frontline therapy for these patients remains an open question.2 Prof. Cortes described the results as “very, very positive,” since there was significantly improved event-free survival in patients receiving FLAG-IDA plus gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) compared with daunorubicin-GO (HR 0.73, CI 0.61-0.87, p<0.001), as well as significantly improved overall survival in patients with higher-risk cytogenetics.8 “We could explore that in younger patients as a frontline therapy where we definitely could improve our care,” he suggested.

Moving back to discussing older, treatment-naïve patients, Prof. Cortes noted the practical applications of a study evaluating a non-standard AZA/VEN regimen in frail individuals (n=82) who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.9 In an attempt to reduce toxicity, patients in the study received venetoclax for only 7 days of each cycle rather than the standard 28 days described in the VIALE-A trial.1 The patients’ response rates increased as they received more treatment cycles, with ORRs of 41.5%, 53.9% and 68.3% after one, two and all cycles respectively. The response rates were similar to those reported in VIALE-A despite reduced exposure to venetoclax. “I think it’s a very good approach that we should look at,” said Prof. Cortes. “It makes it less myelosuppressive and more applicable for scenarios where it may be more difficult to manage patients with very, very prolonged myelosuppression.”

The full video interview with Prof. Cortes is available on touchONCOLOGY here.

The abstracts discussed in this interview include:

Abstract 61: ‘Phase I/II Study of Azacitidine (AZA) with Venetoclax (VEN) and Magrolimab (Magro) in Patients (pts) with Newly Diagnosed (ND) Older/Unfit or High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) AML

Abstract 62: ‘Broad Activity for the Pivekimab Sunirine (PVEK, IMGN632), Azacitidine, and Venetoclax Triplet in High-Risk Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Abstract 218: ‘FLAG-Ida Combined with Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO) Improves Event Free Survival in Younger Patients with Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Shows an Overall Survival Benefit in NPM1 and FLT3 mutated Subgroups. Results from the UK NCRI AML19 Trial‘ (02:30-02:54)

Abstract 222: ‘Reduced Venetoclax Exposition to Seven Days of Azacitidine Is Efficient in Treatment-Naïve Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia‘ (02:50-03:50)

1

References

  1. DiNardo CD, Jonas BA, Pullarkat V, et al. Azacitidine and venetoclax in previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:617-29.
  2. Shimony S, Stahl M, Stone RM. Acute myeloid leukemia: 2023 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management. Am J Hematol. 2023;98:502-26.
  3. Pratz KW, Jonas BA, Pullarkat VA, et al. 219 Long-term follow-up of the Phase 3 VIALE-A clinical trial of venetoclax plus azacitidine for patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Presented at ASH 2022, Dec. 10-13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana.
  4. Daver N, Senapati J, Maiti A, et al. 61 Phase I/II study of azacitidine (AZA) with venetoclax (VEN) and magrolimab (Magro) in patients (pts) with newly diagnosed (ND) older/unfit or high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML. Presented at ASH 2022, Dec. 10-13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana.
  5. Haddad F, Daver N. Targeting CD47/SIRPα in acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome: Preclinical and clinical developments of magrolimab. J Immunother Precis Oncol. 2021;4:67-71.
  6. Sahasrabudhe KD, Mims AS. Novel investigational approaches for high-risk genetic subsets of AML: TP53, KMT2A, FLT3. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2022;2022:15-22.
  7. Daver N, Montesinos P, Aribi A, et al. 62 Broad activity for the pivekimab sunirine (PVEK, IMGN632), azacitidine, and venetoclax triplet in high-risk patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Presented at ASH 2022, Dec. 10-13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana.
  8. Russell NH, Wilhelm-Benartzi C, Knapper S, et al. 218 FLAG-Ida combined with gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) improves event free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and shows an overall survival benefit in NPM1 and FLT3 mutated subgroups. Results from the UK NCRI AML19 trial. Presented at ASH 2022, Dec. 10-13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana.
  9. Willekens C, Chraibi S, Decroocq J, et al. 222 Reduced venetoclax exposition to seven days of azacitidine is efficient in treatment-naïve patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Presented at ASH 2022, Dec. 10-13, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana.
2

Article Information

Support

Medical writing assistance was provided by Alison McTavish, supported by Touch Medical Media Ltd.

3

Further Resources

Share
Facebook
X (formerly Twitter)
LinkedIn
Via Email
Mark CompleteCompleted
BookmarkBookmarked
Copy LinkLink Copied

This Functionality is for
Members Only

Explore the latest in medical education and stay current in your field. Create a free account to track your learning.

Close Popup