Invasive Fungal Disease Associated With Targeted Agents for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Infectious Diseases
• Oncology

Background:

• Targeted therapies are increasingly used in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treatment.
• The risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in this patient population requires careful evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) undergoing treatment with targeted agents.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed in April 2024, focusing on AML, IFD, and targeted therapy.
• Inclusion criteria included studies published in English within the last 10 years.
• Relevant studies were supplemented with manual reference searches.

Main Results:

• 16 relevant publications were identified from 54 initial search results, with four additional studies found manually.
• The majority of studies reported IFD incidence during targeted agent treatment, with some noting IFD as an adverse event.
• Several studies reported IFD incidence exceeding the 8% threshold for anti-mould prophylaxis, with *Aspergillus* being the most common pathogen, primarily affecting the lungs.

Conclusions:

• Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a frequent complication in AML patients receiving targeted therapies, even with prophylaxis.
• Further prospective and large-scale epidemiological studies are needed to fully elucidate IFD risk factors, incidence, and characteristics in this vulnerable group.