Daniel Pollyea, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine/hematology, and the clinical director of Leukemia Services at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, discusses indications for anti-CD33 therapy in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

For anti-CD33 therapies, such as gemtuzumab (Mylotarg), the first indication would be having CD33 expression on the blast; more than 90% of patients with AML do, according to Pollyea. Second, the most common use for this approach is good-risk, newly diagnosed patients with AML, Pollyea says. For those with a core-binding factor or cytogenetic abnormalities, gemtuzumab can be added to a 7+3 regimen, Pollyea explains. 

Roles exist for anti-CD33 monoclonal therapy in the AML treatment paradigm, and other agents beyond gemtuzumab are currently under development, Pollyea adds. New strategies include bispecific T-cell engager therapy with a CD33-targeting agent linked to CD3-targeting agent, which could have benefit in the relapsed or refractory setting, Pollyea notes. There are many opportunities to target CD33 in AML, Pollyea concludes. 

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Daniel Pollyea, MD, MS, discusses indications for anti-CD33 therapy in the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.


Dr. Pollyea on Indications for Anti-CD33 Therapy in AML

Daniel Pollyea, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine/hematology and the clinical director of Leukemia Services at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, discusses improving induction outcomes for newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Traditionally, the course of action for younger patients with newly diagnosed AML has been to induce a remission with intensive induction chemotherapy, or the 7 + 3 regimen, according to Pollyea. One way this strategy can be improved, however, is to combine it with the CD33-targeted antibody gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg) for those with good-risk disease features, Pollyea explains. Data from a meta-analysis show that the addition of the novel agent to induction chemotherapy has yielded improvements in overall survival, Pollyea notes.

 mutations, adding the FLT3 inhibitor midostaurin (Rydapt) to induction chemotherapy can improve survival in this population as well, Pollyea adds. Based on the biology of the patients, these are 2 strategies to enhance the benefit of induction chemotherapy in this population, Pollyea concludes.

Daniel Pollyea, MD, MS, discusses improving induction outcomes for newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Dr. Pollyea on Improving Outcomes With Induction Chemotherapy in AML

Daniel A. Pollyea, MD, MS, assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and clinical director of Leukemia Services at the CU School of Medicine, discusses recent advances in the treatment landscape of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

There are have been many recent exciting developments in the AML landscape, says Pollyea. Through the targeted sequencing of patient samples, investigators have begun to better understand the biology of the disease. As a result, targeted therapies have been paired with individual patients’ disease to personalize care.

Other advances include targeting patients based on protein expression and taking advantage of the immune system. There is also the potential to target and eradicate the stem cell population, Pollyea says. Many of these newer approaches are on the horizon, and Pollyea is excited for what is to come for the field of AML.

Daniel A. Pollyea, MD, MS, assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and clinical director of Leukemia Services at the CU School of Medicine, discusses recent advances in the treatment landscape of acute myeloid leukemia.
 

Daniel A. Pollyea, MD

Articles

Dr. Pollyea on Indications for Anti-CD33 Therapy in AML

Dr. Pollyea on Improving Outcomes With Induction Chemotherapy in AML

Dr. Pollyea Discusses Recent Advances in AML