Enasidenib in acute myeloid leukemia: clinical development and perspectives on treatment

• Main Authors: Reed DR, Elsarrag RZ, Morris AL, Keng MK
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2019-08-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 2; relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML); enasidenib
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/enasidenib-in-acute-myeloid-leukemia-clinical-development-and-perspect-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR

Daniel R Reed,1 Ramey Z Elsarrag,2 Amy L Morris,3 Michael K Keng11Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; 2Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; 3Department of Pharmacy Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USACorrespondence: Michael K KengDepartment of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, West Complex, Room 6009, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USATel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Recently there has been a significant progression in the understanding of molecular mutations driving biochemical and cellular signaling changes leading to survival and proliferation of leukemia cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Preclinical studies have demonstrated a mutated enzyme in the citric acid cycle, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), leads to the production of an oncogenic metabolite R-2-hydroxy-glutarate (R-2-HG). This causes the arrest in the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells leading to the promotion of leukemia. Inhibitors of the IDH enzyme have been shown in preclinical studies to reduce the production of R-2-HG, resulting in terminal differentiation of leukemia blast cells. In recent phase I and II trials, the IDH2 inhibitor enasidenib has shown clinical activity in patients with relapsed and refractory (R/R) AML. This review will describe the preclinical and clinical developments of enasidenib and its Food and Drug Administration approval in R/R AML, treatment recommendations and management will be outlined.Keywords: isocitrate dehydrogenase, IDH 2, relapsed/refractory, R/R acute myeloid leukemia AML, enasidenib, IDH, AML