Blood cancer New therapeutic approach to acute myeloid leukemia

Promising studies: New approach to the treatment of leukemia

The so-called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most common blood cancers in Germany. Although the chances of recovery have improved significantly in recent years, only a small proportion of those affected can be cured in the long term. German researchers are now reporting a new approach to the treatment of AML.

Most common form of acute leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with 3.5 new diagnoses per 100,000 inhabitants per year, is a rare disease, but the most common form of acute leukemia in Germany, according to the Competence Network on Leukemia. Men are a little more affected than women. "In addition to chemotherapy AML is often additionally performed in a stem cell and bone marrow transplantation. Researchers from Dresden are now reporting a new approach to the treatment of rare diseases.

Although acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare disease, it is the most common form of acute leukemia. If left untreated, it will quickly kill you. German researchers are now reporting a new approach to treating the disease. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

If left untreated, the disease will be fatal within a few weeks

This disease, which is caused by malignant genetic changes in the bone marrow, affects mainly older patients - half of the patients are over 70 years old.

Patients often experience symptoms such as severe pallor, fatigue, discomfort, increased susceptibility to infections, bleeding, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, limited performance, and dizziness.

However, some patients have little discomfort and leukemia is only detected by chance diagnosis.

But: "AML is a serious illness that, if left untreated, leads to death within a few weeks", writes the "Kompetenznetz Leukämie".

"That's why it's so important to start therapy right after the diagnosis. The most important part of the treatment is the chemotherapy with an adjunctive therapy to treat the side effects, "the experts added.

In some cases, bone marrow transplantation can occur. Radiotherapy plays a minor role in AML.

However, it is still being researched on therapeutic options for blood cancer. For example, US researchers recently reported that high dose vitamin C infusions could help with leukemia. And other scientists from the US developed a new immunotherapy for blood cancer.

German experts have now also taken a big step towards a new approach to the treatment of AML.

Healing chances have increased significantly

Although the chances of recovery in AML have increased significantly in recent decades, the five-year survival rate is only 30 percent, and in the long term, about 20 percent of patients can be cured.

A key to better survival could be new immunotherapies and targeted therapies. Dresden scientists have developed a promising drug that will be tested in clinical trials from the beginning of next year.

The bispecific antibody "GEM333", newly developed under the direction of the TU Dresden professors Gerhard Ehninger and Michael Bachmann in the spin-off biotech company GEMoaB, recognizes a structure called CD3 on the defense cells and the receptor CD33 on blood cancer cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Through its bridging function, the antibody triggers a defense reaction that can repress the cancer.

Previous laboratory tests are very promising

"The drug could open up new opportunities especially for patients with a relapse or a poor response to therapy," said Prof. Gerhard Ehninger in a statement.

"The previous laboratory tests are very promising. From the beginning of 2018, we want to test the new drug in a phase I clinical trial. On the basis of 35 patients, the appropriate dose should first be determined at the Dresden site and at the University Hospital in Würzburg, "explained the expert.

The principle is similar to that of a Lego stone, which can be connected to other stones both on its top and bottom: Artificially generated, bispecific antibodies can bind with one end to a surface molecule of a cancer cell, with the other to structures in the membrane certain immune cells called T cells.

"Via this connecting bridge, toxins from the T cell enter the leukemia cell and can destroy it. Without such artificial help, the immune system can not recognize the cancer cells as enemies. With the help of a suitable bispecific antibody, it is again able to actively fight against cancer, "explained Prof. Michael Bachmann.

Bispecific antibodies are "newcomers" to the therapy landscape compared to other treatment options. In 2014 and 2015, a first bispecific antibody was approved for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a form of leukemia that primarily affects children. (Ad)