Annals of hematology
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Annals of hematology · Aug 2019
Multicenter StudyVenetoclax in patients with acute myeloid leukemia refractory to hypomethylating agents-a multicenter historical prospective study.
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who progress after exposure to hypomethylating agents (HMA) have a dismal prognosis. We hypothesized that the addition of venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, to AML patients who previously failed HMA might overcome resistance. Adult patients (≥ 18 years) with AML were eligible if leukemia relapsed after, or was refractory to HMA. ⋯ Higher number of blasts in both bone marrow and peripheral blood was associated with lower chances of CR, while higher WBC, LDH, and bone marrow or peripheral blasts were associated with increased mortality rate. The addition of venetoclax to patients with HMA-refractory AML may result in a substantial anti-leukemic activity, specifically in those achieving complete remission. This should be further tested in a well-designed prospective trial.