A phase 1 study of the antibody-drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin with re-induction chemotherapy in patients with CD30-expressing relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: Outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) remain poor. Novel therapies specifically targeting AML are of high interest. Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is an antibody-drug conjugate that is specific for human CD30.

Cabozantinib is well tolerated in acute myeloid leukemia and effectively inhibits the resistance-conferring FLT3/tyrosine kinase domain/F691 mutation.

Background: Cabozantinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), MET, AXL, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and KIT, is approved for use in multiple malignancies. We assessed the safety and tolerability of cabozantinib in AML, given up-regulation of multiple relevant pathways.

Methods: Adults were eligible if they were 18 years old or older with relapsed/refractory AML or if they were 70 years old or older with newly diagnosed AML but were ineligible for conventional therapy.