Review
Novel agents and regimens for acute myeloid leukemia: 2009 ASH annual meeting highlights
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* Corresponding authors: Xiongpeng Zhu xiongpengzhu@163.com - Delong Liu delong_liu@nymc.edu
1 Department of Hematology, First Hospital of Quanzhou Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, China
2 Division of Hematology and Oncology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
Journal of Hematology & Oncology 2010, 3:17 doi:10.1186/1756-8722-3-17
Published: 23 April 2010Abstract
Prognostic markers, such as NPM1, Flt3-ITD, and cytogenetic abnormalities have made it possible to formulate aggressive treatment plans for unfavorable acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the long-term survival of AML with unfavorable factors remains unsatisfactory. The latest data indicate that the standard dose of daunorubicin (DNR) at 45 mg/m2 is inferior to high dose 90 mg/m2 for induction therapy. The rates of complete remission and overall survival are significantly better in the high dose induction regimen. New regimens exploring the new liposomal encapsulation of Ara-C and DNR as well as addition of gemtuzumab ozogamicin monoclonal antibody have been studied. New agents, including the nucleoside analogues (clofarabine, sapacitabine, elacytarabine), FLT3 inhibitor (sorafenib), farnesyl-transferase inhibitor (tipifarnib), histone deacetylase inhibitor (vorinostat), lenalidomide, as well as DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (decitabine, azacitidine), were recently reported for AML treatment in the 2009 ASH annual meeting. This review also summarizes the updates of the clinical trials on novel agents including voreloxin, AS1413, behenoylara-C, ARRY520, ribavirin, AZD1152, AZD6244, and terameprocol (EM-1421) from the 2009 ASH annual meeting.