Abstract:
The treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults has not
significantly changed in the past five decades. Despite the availability
of effective induction chemotherapy, most patients eventually relapse.
Relapsed or refractory AML, and AML in patients 60 years of age and older
are particularly difficult to treat and have poor prognosis hence the need
for novel therapies. Vosaroxin is a novel first-in-class anticancer quinolone
derivative that intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II. Vosaroxin
was shown in preclinical studies to be a potent antileukemia agent with
unique features that overcome common mechanisms of resistance to
standard therapy. Vosaroxin as single agent or in combination with
cytarabine showed promising tolerability and activity in Phase I and II
studies. The combination of vosaroxin and cytarabine is currently being
studied in the Phase III VALOR trial that will define the role of vosaroxin
in first relapsed or refractory AML. This review summarizes the preclinical
and clinical studies of vosaroxin in AML.
Citation:
El-Amm, J., & Tabbara, I. A. (2014). Vosaroxin for acute myeloid leukemia. Clinical Investigation, 4(2), 147-152.
