[Maintenance therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (including in patients who have undergone transplantation) including off-label use drugs in Japan].

Abstract

Recurrence in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a major barrier in patients who achieve complete remission after induction of remission and consolidation therapy and desire long-term survival. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation lowers recurrence risk in patients; however, recurrence is common even after transplantation. Many maintenance therapies for AML aim to lower recurrence risk; therefore, research has focused on identifying drugs with a tolerable adverse-effect profile. Thus far, many trials of cytotoxic anticancer drugs used in maintenance therapy have showed no improvement in survival rates. In contrast, recent studies on immunomodulation, epigenetics, molecular-targeted drugs, etc. have demonstrated promising results. Therefore, we plan to review various maintenance therapies, such as immunotherapy, demethylating agents, and targeted therapies (including fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 inhibitors in particular) based on the current evidence. Moreover, we describe a new strategy that incorporates the assessment of measurable minimal residual disease.

• Authors: Toru Kiguchi
• Journal: [Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology (Rinsho Ketsueki) Vol. 62 Issue 8 Pg. 978-987 ( 2021) ISSN: 0485-1439 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 34497238 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Pharmaceutical Preparations

Topics

• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
• Humans
• Japan
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (drug therapy)
• Off-Label Use
• Pharmaceutical Preparations
• Remission Induction