Alexander E. Perl, MD

Alexander E. Perl, MD, associate professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and member of the Abramson Cancer Center, discusses the latest advancements in the treatment landscape for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These advances are driven by 2 factors: a better understanding of the biology of the disease and improving therapeutics to meet that understanding.

Over the last few years, there have been 9 new drug approvals for AML, says Perl, after many years with no drug developments. Many of these newer drugs are targeting the specific biologic processes that are often driven by the mutations seen in AML.

For example, a drug called gilteritinib (Xospata) is a new therapy for patients with AML. This agent targets a very common mutation called

These data were presented at the 2019 AACR Meeting

Videos

Alexander E. Perl, MD, discusses the latest advancements in the treatment landscape for patients with acute myeloid leukemia. These advances are driven by 2 factors: a better understanding of the biology of the disease and improving therapeutics to meet that understanding.

Highlighting Latest Additions to the Treatment Landscape for AML

Alexander E. Perl, MD, associate professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and member of the Abramson Cancer Center, discusses results from the phase III ADMIRAL trial, which demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival (OS) in patients with

-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with the FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib (Xospata).

In comparison to chemotherapy, the response rates were substantially higher, or at least doubled in terms of complete response (CR), CR with hematologic recovery, and overall response. In addition, Perl notes that patients in the gilteritinib arm also had higher transplantation rates of 26% versus 15% in the chemotherapy arm. These patients also remained on treatment considerably longer.

Median OS in patients who received gilteritinib was statistically significant at 9.3 months compared to 5.6 months in the chemotherapy arm. The 1-year OS rates were doubled as well, Perl says. Overall, gilteritinib outperformed chemotherapy in all measures of response.

See more of the data from this trial here

Alexander E. Perl, MD, discusses results from the phase III ADMIRAL trial, which demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival in patients with <em>FLT3</em>-mutated acute myeloid leukemia treated with the FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib.

Dr. Perl on Survival Improvement With Gilteritinib in FLT3+ AML

Alexander E. Perl, MD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) has already been approved for this patient population.

This agent was previously approved for relapsed disease, but withdrawn for single-agent use due to toxicity concerns.

Nonetheless, randomized data supported the use of this ADC in patients with AML. It is important to understand in which patients this treatment is most effective, which Perl notes as patients with relatively favorable chemotherapy-sensitive genotypes.

Alexander E. Perl, MD, discusses the use of antibody-drug conjugates in acute myeloid leukemia. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin has already been approved for this patient population.

Alexander E. Perl, MD | Authors

Articles

Highlighting Latest Additions to the Treatment Landscape for AML

Dr. Perl on Survival Improvement With Gilteritinib in FLT3+ AML

Using Antibody-Drug Conjugates for Treatment of AML