Gilteritinib: A Novel FLT3 Inhibitor for Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common adult leukemia, with an overall poor prognosis. New agents targeting various receptors may improve treatment outcomes and overall survival. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a targetable mutation occurring in one third of AML patients. It contributes to increased tumor proliferation and decreased cellular differentiation, ultimately conferring a poor overall prognosis. Among patients with <i>FLT3</i>-positive relapsed/refractory AML, outcomes are particularly dismal. Gilteritinib is a novel, second-generation FLT3 inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory AML with an <i>FLT3</i> mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test.