What new developments have been made in immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia?

This article aimed to review the latest developments in immunotherapy treatments for acute myeloid leukemia.

This article concluded that the development of immunotherapies for acute myeloid leukemia is lagging behind that of other cancers.

Standard treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant and newer therapies like targeted therapies. Targeted therapies target proteins involved in cancer growth. Recently the use of immunotherapy for AML has been investigated for patients who are not eligible for stem cell transplant. Immunotherapy is used to treat many other cancers. Immunotherapy aims to stimulate the immune system to kill cancer cells.  

This article reviewed the recent developments and current status of five immunotherapy methods. These are antibody-drug conjugates, T-cell recruiting antibody constructs, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, checkpoint inhibitors and dendritic cell vaccinations.  Clinical trials involving some of these immunotherapy methods were reviewed. 

Antibody-drug conjugates consist of monoclonal antibodies (recognized by the cancer cell) joined to toxins. The antibody attaches to the cancer cell, and the toxin (such as a chemotherapy) can attack the cell. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is an example of an antibody-drug conjugate. Others are under investigation.

T-cell recruiting antibody constructs are antibodies that bring cancer cells and T cells (a type of immune cell) close together. The T cell is then able to attack the cancer cell. Blinatumomab (Blincyto) is an example of a T-cell recruiting antibody construct.  

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy helps the immune system to fight cancer cells. In this treatment, immune cells (the T-cells) are removed from the blood. The T-cells are then genetically modified in a laboratory to produce CAR. CAR is a protein that helps the T-cells recognize leukemia cells as something to attack. After the T-cells are modified, they are CAR-T cells. The CAR-T cells are reintroduced into the patient and will then attack AML cells. One study noted an 86% complete remission rate in patients with relapsed or refractory (did not respond to treatment) AML.

Checkpoint inhibitors bind to the cancer cells, blocking proteins needed for cancer growth. They can also bind to T cells, making them more likely to attack cancer cells. This type of treatment is under early investigation in AML.

Dendritic cell vaccinations can be used to stimulate a new immune response or kickstart an inactive immune response. An active immune response will allow the body to see the cancer cells as foreign and kill them. One smaller study noted that dendritic cells that specifically targeted AML cells were found in the body 6 months after vaccination.

This article concluded that developments in immunotherapies for AML are being made. However, the development is lagging behind that of immunotherapies for other cancer types.

Immunotherapies for AML are still in the development phase.

Consult your physician for more information on immunotherapy for AML.