First targeted therapy for genetically defined subset with acute myeloid leukaemia improves survival

Dr Stone talks to ecancertv at ASH 2015 about a multinational, randomised, phase III trial that evaluated the benefit of the multi-kinase drug midostaurin in adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

The aim of the study was to see if adding midostaurin to induction and consolidation therapy followed by 1 year of maintenance would improve overall survival (OS) compared to standard chemotherapy in younger adults with activating FLT3 mutations.

Around 700 patients were randomized and results showed there was a 23% lower risk of dying if patients had been randomised to receive the additional targeted treatment.