How does gilteritinib work?

How does gilteritinib work?

In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal white blood cells. These cells cannot perform normal immune functions and instead crowd out healthy blood cells. Gilteritinib, as a targeted therapy, selectively blocks the activity of certain enzymes called tyrosine kinases. These kinases are key signaling molecules that abnormal leukemia cells rely on for proliferation and survival. By inhibiting these kinases, gilteritinib effectively stops the growth and spread of cancer cells, thereby controlling disease progression. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, this targeted treatment acts more precisely on cancer cells, reducing damage to normal cells.

What is gilteritinib?

Gilteritinib is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia. It belongs to a class of anticancer drugs known as protein kinase inhibitors. Its active ingredient is gilteritinib. The drug is typically used for patients whose leukemia is associated with an FLT3 gene mutation and whose disease has relapsed or has not improved after previous treatment. Gilteritinib is administered as an oral tablet, with each tablet containing 40 mg of gilteritinib (as the fumarate salt). Other ingredients include mannitol, hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, etc. The tablets are round, pale yellow, film-coated.

Which patients are suitable for gilteritinib?

Gilteritinib is specifically indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia who carry an FLT3 gene mutation. FLT3 mutation is one of the most common genetic mutations in AML and is associated with rapid disease progression and high relapse rates. Specifically, gilteritinib is suitable for two types of patients: those whose disease has relapsed after initial treatment, and those who did not achieve adequate remission (i.e., refractory disease) from prior therapy. Before starting gilteritinib, doctors typically use a specialized genetic test to confirm the presence of an FLT3 mutation. This drug is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as its safety and efficacy have not been established in this age group.