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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 2/2017

01-02-2017 | Original Article – Clinical Oncology

Outcome of FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia: impact of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment

Authors: Maximilian Fleischmann, Ulf Schnetzke, Karin G. Schrenk, Volker Schmidt, Herbert G. Sayer, Inken Hilgendorf, Andreas Hochhaus, Sebastian Scholl

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

Background

Activating mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 (fms-related tyrosine kinase 3) reflect the most frequent molecular aberration in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In particular, FLT3 internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD) are characterized by an unfavorable prognosis and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allogeneic SCT) in first complete remission is recommended. In case of imminent or frank relapse following allogeneic SCT, treatment with FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) constitutes a promising clinical approach to induce hematologic remission without conventional chemotherapy.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively analyzed the response to induction chemotherapy and the outcome of 76 patients with FLT3-ITD-positive AML including 50 patients who underwent allogeneic SCT. Furthermore, efficacy of TKI treatment was evaluated in 18 patients (median age 54 years, range 21–74) with relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD-positive AML.

Results

Response to induction chemotherapy in 76 FLT3-ITD-positive AML patients was characterized by a complete remission (CR) rate of 68%. In total, 50 of 76 patients (66%) underwent allogeneic SCT including 40 patients (80%) in CR. Relapse of AML was observed in 21 of 47 patients (45%) after allogeneic SCT with a median relapse-free survival (RFS) of 13 months (range 3–224) for patients with CR prior to or at day +30 after SCT. Myeloablative conditioning resulted in an improved median RFS of 29 months (4–217) as compared to a reduced intensity conditioning protocol prior to allogeneic SCT with a RFS of 8 months (1–197, P = 0.048), respectively. Median OS of FLT3-ITD-positive AML was 17 months (5–225) for patients who received an allogeneic SCT as compared to 9 months (1–184) for patients who did not undergo SCT. Response of FLT3-ITD-positive AML to sorafenib was characterized by only 3 of 18 patients achieving a bone marrow response (17%), while there was no response to second-line treatment with ponatinib.

Conclusion

This “real-life” data reflect the continuing challenge of FLT3-ITD-positive AML and confirm the poor outcome even after allogeneic SCT. Furthermore, efficacy of TKI treatment of relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD AML is still limited and requires substantial improvement, e.g., by the introduction of second-generation inhibitors targeting constitutively active FLT3.
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Metadata
Title
Outcome of FLT3-ITD-positive acute myeloid leukemia: impact of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment
Authors
Maximilian Fleischmann
Ulf Schnetzke
Karin G. Schrenk
Volker Schmidt
Herbert G. Sayer
Inken Hilgendorf
Andreas Hochhaus
Sebastian Scholl
Publication date
01-02-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2290-5

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