ASH 2021 | Discussing FLT3-mutated AML: top ASH data, triplets, and exciting future strategies

Naval Daver, MD, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, and Eunice Wang, MD, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, have an insightful discussion on FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) updates presented at the ASH 2021 annual meeting. Dr Daver and Dr Wang comment on efforts to investigate the use of FLT3 inhibitors in combination with other agents, rather than the standard single agent approach. One such example is the Phase II/III LACEWING trial (NCT02752035) of gilteritinib in combination with azacitidine compared to azacitidine alone in the frontline setting. Dr Wang shares the trial findings and comments on why it is important to look beyond the overall survival (OS) data, where no significant difference was seen between the two trial arms. Dr Daver discusses recent investigations into triplet combinations in this space, following the approval of azacitidine-venetoclax. For example, ongoing studies are looking at azacitidine-venetoclax with gilteritinib or quizartinib. Dr Wang and Dr Daver then share their thoughts on how different strategies could be used to improve the tolerability of these triplets to make them more applicable to general clinical use, as well as the possibility of fully oral regimens in years to come. This interview took place at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition congress in Atlanta, GA.