Six patients achieved composite complete remission (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery + CR with incomplete platelet recovery), 2 of whom proceeded to hematopoietic cell transplantation with long-term leukemia-free survival. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02864290.

Similarly, the combination of ASP1235, venetoclax and azacitidine showed a superior anti-tumor effect in a THP-1 xenograft model without obvious body weight loss. These findings provide supportive evidence that the triple combination of ASP1235, venetoclax and azacitidine would improve the clinical outcome of ASP1235 monotherapy and venetoclax plus azacitidine regimen in AML patients.

The combination of 20D9-ADC with the TKI midostaurin showed strong synergy in vitro and in vivo, leading to reduction of aggressive AML cells below the detection limit. Our data indicate that targeting FLT3 with an advanced new-generation ADC is a promising and potent antileukemic strategy, especially when combined with FLT3-TKI in FLT3‑ITD positive AML.

These modalities include antibody-based FLT3 targeted therapies, immune cells mediated targeting strategies, and approaches targeting downstream signaling pathways and FLT3 translation. Here, we review the most recent advances and the challenges associated with the development of therapeutic modalities targeting FLT3 beyond the kinase inhibitors.

Furthermore, the effects of the novel AXL antibody DAXL-88, antibody-drug conjugate DAXL-88-monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), AXL small molecule inhibitor R428 and their combination with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor quizartinib (AC220) in AML cells were analyzed by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry and western blotting. The antileukemic effect of DAXL-88 and DAXL-88-MMAE may rely on their ability to block AXL, FLT3 and their downstream signaling pathways. The present study demonstrated the association between AXL antigen expression upregulation and drug resistance in FLT3-ITD AML, and proposed a method for overcoming FLT3 inhibitor resistance of FLT3-ITD AML using novel AXL-targeted agents.

Our data demonstrated that soluble rhFL can be produced in a bioactive form in the periplasm of recombinant E. coli. FL can be used as a specific vehicle to deliver DM1 into FLT3-expressing AML cells. FL-DM1 exhibited cytotoxicity in FLT3-expressing AML cell lines and primary AML cells. FL-DM1 may have potential clinical applications in treating patients with FLT3-positive AML.

Therefore, our results mentioned above are very noteworthy finding showing the high potential of SJP1604 to be further developed as the first innovative targeted therapy to treat entire population of R/R AML patients. Herein, we show a phase I clinical trial design of SJP1604 to perform an open-label, first-in-human, dose escalation study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and anti-tumor activity in patients with R/R AML.

Future directions will focus on novel, efficient and targeted combinations, low-toxicity maintenance, and individualized precision strategies. Here, we review the major recent advances of targeted therapies in the treatment of R/R AML.

The significant improvement in genetic technology recently has driven the appearance of several mutation-targeted therapies, such as FLT3, Bcl-2, IDH and Hedgehog pathway inhibitors and an anti-CD33 antibody-drug conjugate, which have changed enormously the therapeutic landscape of acute myeloid leukemia. This review describes the treatment dilemma of the unfit group and discusses the objective clinical data of each targeted drug and mechanisms of resistance, with a focus on combination strategies with fewer toxicities and abrogation of drug resistance.

Advances in the formulation and delivery of 7 + 3 with liposomal cytarabine and daunorubicin (Vyxeos) have improved overall survival in secondary AML. Antibody drug conjugates have resurfaced in the AML landscape and there have been numerous advances utilizing immunotherapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific T cell engager antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T therapy and the development of AML vaccines. While there are dozens of ongoing studies and new drugs in the pipeline, this paper serves as a review of the advances achieved in the treatment of AML in the last several years and the most promising future avenues of advancement.

In addition, administration of CDX alone or in combination with PD1 in humanized mice resulted in efficient elimination of the human hematopoietic compartment from the mouse bone marrow. Based on our findings, CDX shows promise for treatment of AML with concurrent conditioning for HSCT with improved specificity compared to standard of care and even displays synergy with checkpoint inhibition of PD1.

Future expansion of this methodology into other cellular therapies (CAR NK or BiTE) and the examination of new data sources could reveal additional targets with robust expression in AML. Demonstration of cell surface expression of these targets, and appropriate preclinical evidence of efficacy, could lay the groundwork for quickly moving these therapies to clinical trials in AML.