Currently, out of all FLT3 inhibitors, only midostaurin is FDA-approved for use in patients with acute myeloid lymphoma (AML). From the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) Annual Meeting, held in Houston, TX, Amir Fathi, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, emphasises that although midostaurin is a good FLT3 inhibitor, it lacks in selectivity and potency. In the RATIFY clinical trial (NCT00651261), however, Dr Fathi reports that midostaurin can enhance survival in AML patients when combined with 7+3 chemotherapy. Other FLT3 inhibitors such as crenolanib, gilteritinib, and quizartinib are not yet FDA- approved, but are undergoing testing in an advanced clinical phase study. Dr Fathi maintains that these drugs may join the future armamentarium of approved drugs that could be available for use in patients with FLT3 mutations.
