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Sequential Targeted Treatment for a Geriatric Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Concurrent FLT3-TKD and IDH1 Mutations
Nearly 20,000 patients are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the US annually.1 Despite the use of aggressive chemotherapeutic agents, the prognosis remains poor, with a mean 5-year survival of 28.3%.2 Fortunately, with the refinement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) hematology panels and development of systemic targeted therapies, the treatment landscape for eligible patients has improved, both in frontline and relapsed or refractory (R/R) patients.
Specifically, investigations into alterations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes have led to the discovery of a number of targeted treatments. Midostaurin is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for use in combination with induction chemotherapy for patients with internal tandem duplication of the FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) gene or mutations within the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD).3 Ivosidenib is indicated for frontline treatment for those who are poor candidates for induction chemotherapy, and R/R patients who have an R132H mutation in IDH1.4,5 Enasidenib is FDA-approved for R/R patients with R140Q, R172S, and R172K mutations in IDH2.6
The optimal treatment for patients with AML with ≥ 2 clinically actionable mutations has not been established. In this article we describe a geriatric patient who initially was diagnosed with AML with concurrent FLT3-TKD and IDH1 mutations and received targeted, sequential management. We detail changes in disease phenotype and mutational status by repeating an NGS hematology panel and cytogenetic studies after each stage of therapy. Lastly, we discuss the clonal evolution apparent within leukemic cells with use of ≥ 1 or more targeted agents.
Case Presentation
A 68-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department at The Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Carolina with fatigue and light-headedness. Because of his symptoms and pancytopenia, a bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy were performed, which showed 57% myeloblasts, 12% promyelocytes/myelocytes, and 2% metamyelocytes in 20 to 30% cellular bone marrow. Flow cytometry confirmed a blast population consistent with AML. A LeukoVantage (Quest Diagnostics) hematologic NGS panel revealed the presence of FLT3-TKD, IDH1, RUNX1, BCOR-E1477, and SF3B1 mutations (Table). Initial fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results showed a normal pattern of hybridization with no translocations. His disease was deemed to be intermediate-high risk because of the presence of FLT3-TKD and RUNX1 mutations, despite the normal cytogenetic profile and absence of additional clinical features.
Induction chemotherapy was started with idarubicin, 12 mg/m2, on days 1 to 3 and cytarabine, 200 mg/m2, on days 1 to 7. Because of the presence of a FLT3-TKD mutation, midostaurin was planned for days 8 to 21. After induction chemotherapy, a bone marrow biopsy on day 14 revealed an acellular marrow with no observed myeloblasts. A bone marrow biopsy conducted before initiating consolidation therapy, revealed 30% cellularity with morphologic remission. However, flow cytometry found 5% myeloblasts expressing CD34, CD117, CD13, CD38, and HLA-DR, consistent with measurable residual disease. He received 2 cycles of consolidation therapy with high-dose cytarabine combined with midostaurin. After the patient's second cycle of consolidation, he continued to experience transfusion-dependent cytopenias. Another bone marrow evaluation demonstrated 10% cellularity with nearly all cells appearing to be myeloblasts. A repeat LeukoVantage NGS panel demonstrated undetectable FLT3-TKD mutation and persistent IDH1-R123C mutation. FISH studies revealed a complex karyotype with monosomy of chromosomes 5 and 7 and trisomy of chromosome 8.
We discussed with the patient and his family the options available, which included initiating targeted therapy for his IDH1 mutation, administering hypomethylation therapy with or without venetoclax, or pursuing palliative measures. We collectively decided to pursue therapy with single-agent oral ivosidenib, 500 mg daily. After 1 month of treatment, our patient developed worsening fatigue. His white blood cell count had increased to > 43 k/cm2, raising concern for differentiation syndrome.
A review of the peripheral smear showed a wide-spectrum of maturing granulocytes, with a large percentage of blasts. Peripheral flow cytometry confirmed a blast population of 15%. After a short period of symptom improvement with steroids, the patient developed worsening confusion. Brain imaging identified 2 subdural hemorrhages. Because of a significant peripheral blast population and the development of these hemorrhages, palliative measures were pursued, and the patient was discharged to an inpatient hospice facility. A final NGS panel performed from peripheral blood detected mutations in IDH1, RUNX1, PTPN11, NRAS, BCOR-E1443, and SF3B1 genes.
Discussion
To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient who sequentially received targeted treatments directed against both FLT3 and IDH1 mutations. Initial management with midostaurin and cytarabine resulted in sustained remission of his FLT3-TKD mutation. However, despite receiving prompt standard of care with combination induction chemotherapy and targeted therapy, the patient experienced unfavorable clonal evolution based upon his molecular and cytogenetic testing. Addition of ivosidenib as a second targeting agent for his IDH1 mutation did not achieve a second remission.
Clonal evolution is a well-described phenomenon in hematology. Indolent conditions, such as clonal hematopoiesis of intermediate potential, or malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms, could transform into acute leukemia through the accumulation of driver mutations and/or cytogenetic abnormalities. Clonal evolution often is viewed as the culprit in patients with AML whose disease relapses after remission with initial chemotherapy.7-10 With the increasing availability of commercial NGS panels designed to assess mutations among patients experiencing hematologic malignancies, patterns of relapse, and, models of clonal evolution could be observed closely in patients with AML.
We were able to monitor molecular changes within our patient’s predominant clonal populations by repeating peripheral comprehensive NGS panels after lines of targeted therapies. The repeated sequencing revealed that clones with FLT3-TKD mutations responded to midostaurin with first-line chemotherapy whereas it was unclear whether clones with IDH1 mutation responded to ivosidenib. Development of complex cytogenetic findings along with the clonal expansion of BCOR mutation-harboring cells likely contributed to our patient’s acutely worsening condition. Several studies have found that the presence of a BCOR mutation in adults with AML leads to lower overall survival and relapse-free survival.11,12 As of now, there are no treatments specifically targeting BCOR mutations.
Although there are novel targeting agents with proven efficacy for both FLT3 and IDH1 mutations (Figure), it is difficult to determine which pathogenic mutation drives disease onset. No evidence suggests that these drugs could be administered in tandem. At the present time, interest is directed towards targeting all AML subclones simultaneously, which could reduce the likelihood of evolution among founder clones.7,10,13 In their comparison between molecular profiles and outcomes of patients with AML, Papaemmanuil and colleagues observed that > 80% of patients with AML harbor ≥ 2 driver mutations concurrently.14 Moreover, FLT3-ITD and IDH1 mutations tend to co-occur in approximately 9 to 27% of AML cases.15-18 Available targeted agents for AML are relatively new and hematologists’ familiarity with these drugs is continuing to grow. As the number of novel agents increases, investigations directed toward assessing the safety profile and efficacy of combining targeted agents will be beneficial for patients with AML with ≥ 1 driver mutation.
Conclusions
For our patient with AML, sequential targeted management of FLT3-TKD and IDH1 mutations was not beneficial. Higher-risk disease features, such as the development of a complex karyotype, likely contributed to our patient’s poor response to second-line ivosidenib. The sequential NGS malignant hematology panels allowed us to closely monitor changes to the molecular structure of our patient’s AML after each line of targeted therapy. Future investigations of combining targeted agents for patients with AML with concurrent actionable mutations would provide insight into outcomes of treating multiple clonal populations simultaneously.
1. De Kouchkovsky I, Abdul-Hay M. Acute myeloid leukemia: a comprehensive review and 2016 update. Blood Cancer J. 2016;6(7):e441. doi:10.1038/bcj.2016.50.
2. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia — acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Accessed November 4, 2020. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/amyl.html
3. Stone RM, Mandrekar SJ, Sanford BL, et al. Midostaurin plus chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia with a FLT3 mutation. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(5):454-464. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1614359.
4. DiNardo CD, Stein EM, de Botton S, et al. Durable remissions with ivosidenib in IDH1-mutated relapsed or refractory AML. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(25):2386-2398. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1716984.
5. Roboz, GJ, DiNardo, CD, Stein, EM, et al. Ivosidenib induces deep durable remissions in patients with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2019;135(7), 463-471. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019002140
6. Stein EM, DiNardo CD, Pollyea DA, et al. Enasidenib in mutant IDH2 relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2017;130(6):722-731. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-04-779405.
7. Jan M, Majeti R. Clonal evolution of acute leukemia genomes. Oncogene. 2013;32(2):135-140. doi:10.1038/onc.2012.48.
8. Grove CS, Vassiliou GS. Acute myeloid leukaemia: a paradigm for the clonal evolution of cancer? Dis Model Mech. 2014;7(8):941-951. doi:10.1242/dmm.015974.
9. Anderson K, Lutz C, van Delft FW, et al. Genetic variegation of clonal architecture and propagating cells in leukaemia. Nature. 2011;469(7330):356-561. doi: 10.1038/nature09650.
10. Ding L, Ley TJ, Larson DE, et al. Clonal evolution in relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia revealed by whole-genome sequencing. Nature. 2012;481(7382):506-510. doi:10.1038/nature10738.
11. Terada K, Yamaguchi H, Ueki T, et al. Usefulness of BCOR gene mutation as a prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia with intermediate cytogenetic prognosis. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2018;57(8):401-408. doi:10.1002/gcc.22542.
12. Grossmann V, Tiacci E, Holmes AB, et al. Whole-exome sequencing identifies somatic mutations of BCOR in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype. Blood. 2011;118(23):6153-6163. doi:10.1182/blood-2011-07-365320.
13. Parkin B, Ouillette P, Li Y, et al. Clonal evolution and devolution after chemotherapy in adult acute myelogenous leukemia. Blood. 2013;121(2):369-377. doi:10.1182/blood-2012-04-427039.
14. Papaemmanuil E, Gerstung M, Bullinger L, et al. Genomic classification and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(23):2209-2221. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1516192.
15. DiNardo CD, Ravandi F, Agresta S, et al. Characteristics, clinical outcome, and prognostic significance of IDH mutations in AML. Am J Hematol. 2015;90(8):732-736. doi:10.1002/ajh.24072.
16. Rakheja D, Konoplev S, Medeiros LJ, Chen W. IDH mutations in acute myeloid leukemia. Hum Pathol. 2012;43 (10):1541-1551. doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2012.05.003.
17. Lai C, Doucette K, Norsworthy K. Recent drug approvals for acute myeloid leukemia. J H Oncol. 2019;12(1):100. doi:10.1186/s13045-019-0774-x.
18. Boddu P, Takahashi K, Pemmaraju N, et al. Influence of IDH on FLT3-ITD status in newly diagnosed AML. Leukemia. 2017;31(11):2526-2529. doi:10.1038/leu.2017.244.
Nearly 20,000 patients are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the US annually.1 Despite the use of aggressive chemotherapeutic agents, the prognosis remains poor, with a mean 5-year survival of 28.3%.2 Fortunately, with the refinement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) hematology panels and development of systemic targeted therapies, the treatment landscape for eligible patients has improved, both in frontline and relapsed or refractory (R/R) patients.
Specifically, investigations into alterations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes have led to the discovery of a number of targeted treatments. Midostaurin is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for use in combination with induction chemotherapy for patients with internal tandem duplication of the FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) gene or mutations within the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD).3 Ivosidenib is indicated for frontline treatment for those who are poor candidates for induction chemotherapy, and R/R patients who have an R132H mutation in IDH1.4,5 Enasidenib is FDA-approved for R/R patients with R140Q, R172S, and R172K mutations in IDH2.6
The optimal treatment for patients with AML with ≥ 2 clinically actionable mutations has not been established. In this article we describe a geriatric patient who initially was diagnosed with AML with concurrent FLT3-TKD and IDH1 mutations and received targeted, sequential management. We detail changes in disease phenotype and mutational status by repeating an NGS hematology panel and cytogenetic studies after each stage of therapy. Lastly, we discuss the clonal evolution apparent within leukemic cells with use of ≥ 1 or more targeted agents.
Case Presentation
A 68-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department at The Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Carolina with fatigue and light-headedness. Because of his symptoms and pancytopenia, a bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy were performed, which showed 57% myeloblasts, 12% promyelocytes/myelocytes, and 2% metamyelocytes in 20 to 30% cellular bone marrow. Flow cytometry confirmed a blast population consistent with AML. A LeukoVantage (Quest Diagnostics) hematologic NGS panel revealed the presence of FLT3-TKD, IDH1, RUNX1, BCOR-E1477, and SF3B1 mutations (Table). Initial fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results showed a normal pattern of hybridization with no translocations. His disease was deemed to be intermediate-high risk because of the presence of FLT3-TKD and RUNX1 mutations, despite the normal cytogenetic profile and absence of additional clinical features.
Induction chemotherapy was started with idarubicin, 12 mg/m2, on days 1 to 3 and cytarabine, 200 mg/m2, on days 1 to 7. Because of the presence of a FLT3-TKD mutation, midostaurin was planned for days 8 to 21. After induction chemotherapy, a bone marrow biopsy on day 14 revealed an acellular marrow with no observed myeloblasts. A bone marrow biopsy conducted before initiating consolidation therapy, revealed 30% cellularity with morphologic remission. However, flow cytometry found 5% myeloblasts expressing CD34, CD117, CD13, CD38, and HLA-DR, consistent with measurable residual disease. He received 2 cycles of consolidation therapy with high-dose cytarabine combined with midostaurin. After the patient's second cycle of consolidation, he continued to experience transfusion-dependent cytopenias. Another bone marrow evaluation demonstrated 10% cellularity with nearly all cells appearing to be myeloblasts. A repeat LeukoVantage NGS panel demonstrated undetectable FLT3-TKD mutation and persistent IDH1-R123C mutation. FISH studies revealed a complex karyotype with monosomy of chromosomes 5 and 7 and trisomy of chromosome 8.
We discussed with the patient and his family the options available, which included initiating targeted therapy for his IDH1 mutation, administering hypomethylation therapy with or without venetoclax, or pursuing palliative measures. We collectively decided to pursue therapy with single-agent oral ivosidenib, 500 mg daily. After 1 month of treatment, our patient developed worsening fatigue. His white blood cell count had increased to > 43 k/cm2, raising concern for differentiation syndrome.
A review of the peripheral smear showed a wide-spectrum of maturing granulocytes, with a large percentage of blasts. Peripheral flow cytometry confirmed a blast population of 15%. After a short period of symptom improvement with steroids, the patient developed worsening confusion. Brain imaging identified 2 subdural hemorrhages. Because of a significant peripheral blast population and the development of these hemorrhages, palliative measures were pursued, and the patient was discharged to an inpatient hospice facility. A final NGS panel performed from peripheral blood detected mutations in IDH1, RUNX1, PTPN11, NRAS, BCOR-E1443, and SF3B1 genes.
Discussion
To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient who sequentially received targeted treatments directed against both FLT3 and IDH1 mutations. Initial management with midostaurin and cytarabine resulted in sustained remission of his FLT3-TKD mutation. However, despite receiving prompt standard of care with combination induction chemotherapy and targeted therapy, the patient experienced unfavorable clonal evolution based upon his molecular and cytogenetic testing. Addition of ivosidenib as a second targeting agent for his IDH1 mutation did not achieve a second remission.
Clonal evolution is a well-described phenomenon in hematology. Indolent conditions, such as clonal hematopoiesis of intermediate potential, or malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms, could transform into acute leukemia through the accumulation of driver mutations and/or cytogenetic abnormalities. Clonal evolution often is viewed as the culprit in patients with AML whose disease relapses after remission with initial chemotherapy.7-10 With the increasing availability of commercial NGS panels designed to assess mutations among patients experiencing hematologic malignancies, patterns of relapse, and, models of clonal evolution could be observed closely in patients with AML.
We were able to monitor molecular changes within our patient’s predominant clonal populations by repeating peripheral comprehensive NGS panels after lines of targeted therapies. The repeated sequencing revealed that clones with FLT3-TKD mutations responded to midostaurin with first-line chemotherapy whereas it was unclear whether clones with IDH1 mutation responded to ivosidenib. Development of complex cytogenetic findings along with the clonal expansion of BCOR mutation-harboring cells likely contributed to our patient’s acutely worsening condition. Several studies have found that the presence of a BCOR mutation in adults with AML leads to lower overall survival and relapse-free survival.11,12 As of now, there are no treatments specifically targeting BCOR mutations.
Although there are novel targeting agents with proven efficacy for both FLT3 and IDH1 mutations (Figure), it is difficult to determine which pathogenic mutation drives disease onset. No evidence suggests that these drugs could be administered in tandem. At the present time, interest is directed towards targeting all AML subclones simultaneously, which could reduce the likelihood of evolution among founder clones.7,10,13 In their comparison between molecular profiles and outcomes of patients with AML, Papaemmanuil and colleagues observed that > 80% of patients with AML harbor ≥ 2 driver mutations concurrently.14 Moreover, FLT3-ITD and IDH1 mutations tend to co-occur in approximately 9 to 27% of AML cases.15-18 Available targeted agents for AML are relatively new and hematologists’ familiarity with these drugs is continuing to grow. As the number of novel agents increases, investigations directed toward assessing the safety profile and efficacy of combining targeted agents will be beneficial for patients with AML with ≥ 1 driver mutation.
Conclusions
For our patient with AML, sequential targeted management of FLT3-TKD and IDH1 mutations was not beneficial. Higher-risk disease features, such as the development of a complex karyotype, likely contributed to our patient’s poor response to second-line ivosidenib. The sequential NGS malignant hematology panels allowed us to closely monitor changes to the molecular structure of our patient’s AML after each line of targeted therapy. Future investigations of combining targeted agents for patients with AML with concurrent actionable mutations would provide insight into outcomes of treating multiple clonal populations simultaneously.
Nearly 20,000 patients are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the US annually.1 Despite the use of aggressive chemotherapeutic agents, the prognosis remains poor, with a mean 5-year survival of 28.3%.2 Fortunately, with the refinement of next-generation sequencing (NGS) hematology panels and development of systemic targeted therapies, the treatment landscape for eligible patients has improved, both in frontline and relapsed or refractory (R/R) patients.
Specifically, investigations into alterations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes have led to the discovery of a number of targeted treatments. Midostaurin is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for use in combination with induction chemotherapy for patients with internal tandem duplication of the FLT3 (FLT3-ITD) gene or mutations within the tyrosine kinase domain (FLT3-TKD).3 Ivosidenib is indicated for frontline treatment for those who are poor candidates for induction chemotherapy, and R/R patients who have an R132H mutation in IDH1.4,5 Enasidenib is FDA-approved for R/R patients with R140Q, R172S, and R172K mutations in IDH2.6
The optimal treatment for patients with AML with ≥ 2 clinically actionable mutations has not been established. In this article we describe a geriatric patient who initially was diagnosed with AML with concurrent FLT3-TKD and IDH1 mutations and received targeted, sequential management. We detail changes in disease phenotype and mutational status by repeating an NGS hematology panel and cytogenetic studies after each stage of therapy. Lastly, we discuss the clonal evolution apparent within leukemic cells with use of ≥ 1 or more targeted agents.
Case Presentation
A 68-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department at The Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in North Carolina with fatigue and light-headedness. Because of his symptoms and pancytopenia, a bone marrow aspiration and trephine biopsy were performed, which showed 57% myeloblasts, 12% promyelocytes/myelocytes, and 2% metamyelocytes in 20 to 30% cellular bone marrow. Flow cytometry confirmed a blast population consistent with AML. A LeukoVantage (Quest Diagnostics) hematologic NGS panel revealed the presence of FLT3-TKD, IDH1, RUNX1, BCOR-E1477, and SF3B1 mutations (Table). Initial fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results showed a normal pattern of hybridization with no translocations. His disease was deemed to be intermediate-high risk because of the presence of FLT3-TKD and RUNX1 mutations, despite the normal cytogenetic profile and absence of additional clinical features.
Induction chemotherapy was started with idarubicin, 12 mg/m2, on days 1 to 3 and cytarabine, 200 mg/m2, on days 1 to 7. Because of the presence of a FLT3-TKD mutation, midostaurin was planned for days 8 to 21. After induction chemotherapy, a bone marrow biopsy on day 14 revealed an acellular marrow with no observed myeloblasts. A bone marrow biopsy conducted before initiating consolidation therapy, revealed 30% cellularity with morphologic remission. However, flow cytometry found 5% myeloblasts expressing CD34, CD117, CD13, CD38, and HLA-DR, consistent with measurable residual disease. He received 2 cycles of consolidation therapy with high-dose cytarabine combined with midostaurin. After the patient's second cycle of consolidation, he continued to experience transfusion-dependent cytopenias. Another bone marrow evaluation demonstrated 10% cellularity with nearly all cells appearing to be myeloblasts. A repeat LeukoVantage NGS panel demonstrated undetectable FLT3-TKD mutation and persistent IDH1-R123C mutation. FISH studies revealed a complex karyotype with monosomy of chromosomes 5 and 7 and trisomy of chromosome 8.
We discussed with the patient and his family the options available, which included initiating targeted therapy for his IDH1 mutation, administering hypomethylation therapy with or without venetoclax, or pursuing palliative measures. We collectively decided to pursue therapy with single-agent oral ivosidenib, 500 mg daily. After 1 month of treatment, our patient developed worsening fatigue. His white blood cell count had increased to > 43 k/cm2, raising concern for differentiation syndrome.
A review of the peripheral smear showed a wide-spectrum of maturing granulocytes, with a large percentage of blasts. Peripheral flow cytometry confirmed a blast population of 15%. After a short period of symptom improvement with steroids, the patient developed worsening confusion. Brain imaging identified 2 subdural hemorrhages. Because of a significant peripheral blast population and the development of these hemorrhages, palliative measures were pursued, and the patient was discharged to an inpatient hospice facility. A final NGS panel performed from peripheral blood detected mutations in IDH1, RUNX1, PTPN11, NRAS, BCOR-E1443, and SF3B1 genes.
Discussion
To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient who sequentially received targeted treatments directed against both FLT3 and IDH1 mutations. Initial management with midostaurin and cytarabine resulted in sustained remission of his FLT3-TKD mutation. However, despite receiving prompt standard of care with combination induction chemotherapy and targeted therapy, the patient experienced unfavorable clonal evolution based upon his molecular and cytogenetic testing. Addition of ivosidenib as a second targeting agent for his IDH1 mutation did not achieve a second remission.
Clonal evolution is a well-described phenomenon in hematology. Indolent conditions, such as clonal hematopoiesis of intermediate potential, or malignancies, such as myelodysplastic syndromes and myeloproliferative neoplasms, could transform into acute leukemia through the accumulation of driver mutations and/or cytogenetic abnormalities. Clonal evolution often is viewed as the culprit in patients with AML whose disease relapses after remission with initial chemotherapy.7-10 With the increasing availability of commercial NGS panels designed to assess mutations among patients experiencing hematologic malignancies, patterns of relapse, and, models of clonal evolution could be observed closely in patients with AML.
We were able to monitor molecular changes within our patient’s predominant clonal populations by repeating peripheral comprehensive NGS panels after lines of targeted therapies. The repeated sequencing revealed that clones with FLT3-TKD mutations responded to midostaurin with first-line chemotherapy whereas it was unclear whether clones with IDH1 mutation responded to ivosidenib. Development of complex cytogenetic findings along with the clonal expansion of BCOR mutation-harboring cells likely contributed to our patient’s acutely worsening condition. Several studies have found that the presence of a BCOR mutation in adults with AML leads to lower overall survival and relapse-free survival.11,12 As of now, there are no treatments specifically targeting BCOR mutations.
Although there are novel targeting agents with proven efficacy for both FLT3 and IDH1 mutations (Figure), it is difficult to determine which pathogenic mutation drives disease onset. No evidence suggests that these drugs could be administered in tandem. At the present time, interest is directed towards targeting all AML subclones simultaneously, which could reduce the likelihood of evolution among founder clones.7,10,13 In their comparison between molecular profiles and outcomes of patients with AML, Papaemmanuil and colleagues observed that > 80% of patients with AML harbor ≥ 2 driver mutations concurrently.14 Moreover, FLT3-ITD and IDH1 mutations tend to co-occur in approximately 9 to 27% of AML cases.15-18 Available targeted agents for AML are relatively new and hematologists’ familiarity with these drugs is continuing to grow. As the number of novel agents increases, investigations directed toward assessing the safety profile and efficacy of combining targeted agents will be beneficial for patients with AML with ≥ 1 driver mutation.
Conclusions
For our patient with AML, sequential targeted management of FLT3-TKD and IDH1 mutations was not beneficial. Higher-risk disease features, such as the development of a complex karyotype, likely contributed to our patient’s poor response to second-line ivosidenib. The sequential NGS malignant hematology panels allowed us to closely monitor changes to the molecular structure of our patient’s AML after each line of targeted therapy. Future investigations of combining targeted agents for patients with AML with concurrent actionable mutations would provide insight into outcomes of treating multiple clonal populations simultaneously.
1. De Kouchkovsky I, Abdul-Hay M. Acute myeloid leukemia: a comprehensive review and 2016 update. Blood Cancer J. 2016;6(7):e441. doi:10.1038/bcj.2016.50.
2. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia — acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Accessed November 4, 2020. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/amyl.html
3. Stone RM, Mandrekar SJ, Sanford BL, et al. Midostaurin plus chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia with a FLT3 mutation. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(5):454-464. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1614359.
4. DiNardo CD, Stein EM, de Botton S, et al. Durable remissions with ivosidenib in IDH1-mutated relapsed or refractory AML. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(25):2386-2398. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1716984.
5. Roboz, GJ, DiNardo, CD, Stein, EM, et al. Ivosidenib induces deep durable remissions in patients with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2019;135(7), 463-471. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019002140
6. Stein EM, DiNardo CD, Pollyea DA, et al. Enasidenib in mutant IDH2 relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2017;130(6):722-731. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-04-779405.
7. Jan M, Majeti R. Clonal evolution of acute leukemia genomes. Oncogene. 2013;32(2):135-140. doi:10.1038/onc.2012.48.
8. Grove CS, Vassiliou GS. Acute myeloid leukaemia: a paradigm for the clonal evolution of cancer? Dis Model Mech. 2014;7(8):941-951. doi:10.1242/dmm.015974.
9. Anderson K, Lutz C, van Delft FW, et al. Genetic variegation of clonal architecture and propagating cells in leukaemia. Nature. 2011;469(7330):356-561. doi: 10.1038/nature09650.
10. Ding L, Ley TJ, Larson DE, et al. Clonal evolution in relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia revealed by whole-genome sequencing. Nature. 2012;481(7382):506-510. doi:10.1038/nature10738.
11. Terada K, Yamaguchi H, Ueki T, et al. Usefulness of BCOR gene mutation as a prognostic factor in acute myeloid leukemia with intermediate cytogenetic prognosis. Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2018;57(8):401-408. doi:10.1002/gcc.22542.
12. Grossmann V, Tiacci E, Holmes AB, et al. Whole-exome sequencing identifies somatic mutations of BCOR in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype. Blood. 2011;118(23):6153-6163. doi:10.1182/blood-2011-07-365320.
13. Parkin B, Ouillette P, Li Y, et al. Clonal evolution and devolution after chemotherapy in adult acute myelogenous leukemia. Blood. 2013;121(2):369-377. doi:10.1182/blood-2012-04-427039.
14. Papaemmanuil E, Gerstung M, Bullinger L, et al. Genomic classification and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(23):2209-2221. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1516192.
15. DiNardo CD, Ravandi F, Agresta S, et al. Characteristics, clinical outcome, and prognostic significance of IDH mutations in AML. Am J Hematol. 2015;90(8):732-736. doi:10.1002/ajh.24072.
16. Rakheja D, Konoplev S, Medeiros LJ, Chen W. IDH mutations in acute myeloid leukemia. Hum Pathol. 2012;43 (10):1541-1551. doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2012.05.003.
17. Lai C, Doucette K, Norsworthy K. Recent drug approvals for acute myeloid leukemia. J H Oncol. 2019;12(1):100. doi:10.1186/s13045-019-0774-x.
18. Boddu P, Takahashi K, Pemmaraju N, et al. Influence of IDH on FLT3-ITD status in newly diagnosed AML. Leukemia. 2017;31(11):2526-2529. doi:10.1038/leu.2017.244.
1. De Kouchkovsky I, Abdul-Hay M. Acute myeloid leukemia: a comprehensive review and 2016 update. Blood Cancer J. 2016;6(7):e441. doi:10.1038/bcj.2016.50.
2. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia — acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Accessed November 4, 2020. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/amyl.html
3. Stone RM, Mandrekar SJ, Sanford BL, et al. Midostaurin plus chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia with a FLT3 mutation. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(5):454-464. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1614359.
4. DiNardo CD, Stein EM, de Botton S, et al. Durable remissions with ivosidenib in IDH1-mutated relapsed or refractory AML. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(25):2386-2398. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1716984.
5. Roboz, GJ, DiNardo, CD, Stein, EM, et al. Ivosidenib induces deep durable remissions in patients with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2019;135(7), 463-471. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019002140
6. Stein EM, DiNardo CD, Pollyea DA, et al. Enasidenib in mutant IDH2 relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Blood. 2017;130(6):722-731. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-04-779405.
7. Jan M, Majeti R. Clonal evolution of acute leukemia genomes. Oncogene. 2013;32(2):135-140. doi:10.1038/onc.2012.48.
8. Grove CS, Vassiliou GS. Acute myeloid leukaemia: a paradigm for the clonal evolution of cancer? Dis Model Mech. 2014;7(8):941-951. doi:10.1242/dmm.015974.
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Sequential Targeted Treatment of an Elderly Patient With Acute Myeloid Leukemia Harboring Concurrent FLT3-TKD and IDH1 Mutations: A Case Report
INTRODUCTION: With the increasing availability of novel targeted therapies and next-generation sequencing (NGS) hematology panels, the treatment paradigm for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has recently been altered. Specifically, patients who bear mutations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) gene or the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 or IDH2 genes may now be candidates for targeted treatments either in the frontline or relapsed or refractory (R/R) settings. The sequential targeted approach to AML patients who harbor mutations within both FLT3 and IDH genes has yet to be elucidated.
CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a case of an elderly patient with FLT3 and IDH1 mutations who underwent induction chemotherapy in combination with midostaurin, and subsequently, ivosidenib in the R/R setting. Clonal evaluation was demonstrated with repeated cytogenetic analysis and NGS of blood and bone marrow specimens. At diagnosis, the patient’s AML harbored several pathogenic gene variants, including FLT3 and IDH1 mutations. Following induction chemotherapy with midostaurin, the patient’s FLT3 mutation was no longer detected. Upon relapse, the FLT3 mutation was still undetectable, however the IDH1 mutation remained. Unfortunately, the patient’s AML did not respond to ivosidenib, and expansion of a leukemic clone with a BCOR mutation was observed.
CONCLUSION: This case conveys the use of multiple targeted therapies in a sequential fashion for an AML patient with frequent completion of NGS panels to monitor clonal evolution. Given that a considerable minority of patients harbor both FLT3 and IDH mutations, further investigations evaluating optimal sequencing or combinations of targeted therapies are required.
INTRODUCTION: With the increasing availability of novel targeted therapies and next-generation sequencing (NGS) hematology panels, the treatment paradigm for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has recently been altered. Specifically, patients who bear mutations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) gene or the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 or IDH2 genes may now be candidates for targeted treatments either in the frontline or relapsed or refractory (R/R) settings. The sequential targeted approach to AML patients who harbor mutations within both FLT3 and IDH genes has yet to be elucidated.
CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a case of an elderly patient with FLT3 and IDH1 mutations who underwent induction chemotherapy in combination with midostaurin, and subsequently, ivosidenib in the R/R setting. Clonal evaluation was demonstrated with repeated cytogenetic analysis and NGS of blood and bone marrow specimens. At diagnosis, the patient’s AML harbored several pathogenic gene variants, including FLT3 and IDH1 mutations. Following induction chemotherapy with midostaurin, the patient’s FLT3 mutation was no longer detected. Upon relapse, the FLT3 mutation was still undetectable, however the IDH1 mutation remained. Unfortunately, the patient’s AML did not respond to ivosidenib, and expansion of a leukemic clone with a BCOR mutation was observed.
CONCLUSION: This case conveys the use of multiple targeted therapies in a sequential fashion for an AML patient with frequent completion of NGS panels to monitor clonal evolution. Given that a considerable minority of patients harbor both FLT3 and IDH mutations, further investigations evaluating optimal sequencing or combinations of targeted therapies are required.
INTRODUCTION: With the increasing availability of novel targeted therapies and next-generation sequencing (NGS) hematology panels, the treatment paradigm for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has recently been altered. Specifically, patients who bear mutations within the FMS-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) gene or the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 or IDH2 genes may now be candidates for targeted treatments either in the frontline or relapsed or refractory (R/R) settings. The sequential targeted approach to AML patients who harbor mutations within both FLT3 and IDH genes has yet to be elucidated.
CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a case of an elderly patient with FLT3 and IDH1 mutations who underwent induction chemotherapy in combination with midostaurin, and subsequently, ivosidenib in the R/R setting. Clonal evaluation was demonstrated with repeated cytogenetic analysis and NGS of blood and bone marrow specimens. At diagnosis, the patient’s AML harbored several pathogenic gene variants, including FLT3 and IDH1 mutations. Following induction chemotherapy with midostaurin, the patient’s FLT3 mutation was no longer detected. Upon relapse, the FLT3 mutation was still undetectable, however the IDH1 mutation remained. Unfortunately, the patient’s AML did not respond to ivosidenib, and expansion of a leukemic clone with a BCOR mutation was observed.
CONCLUSION: This case conveys the use of multiple targeted therapies in a sequential fashion for an AML patient with frequent completion of NGS panels to monitor clonal evolution. Given that a considerable minority of patients harbor both FLT3 and IDH mutations, further investigations evaluating optimal sequencing or combinations of targeted therapies are required.