AML specialist Dr. Alexandre Bazinet from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, shared findings at the ASCO 2024 conference in June about the benefits AML patients who are elderly or too weak to qualify for intensive chemotherapy may receive from shortening the venetoclax + hypomethylating agent (HMA) treatment cycle. Read a summary of the key findings below.
Venetoclax (Venclexta) is a non-chemotherapy medicine given in the form of a pill. It targets cancerous AML cells by blocking the BCL-2 protein, which regulates cell survival and death. Overproduction of BCL-2 is common in cancer cells, and blocking it with venetoclax causes the cancer cells to die.
Hypomethylating agents (HMA) like azacitidine (Vidaza or Onureg) and decitabine (Dacogen) work to kill AML cells by re-activating parts of the cancer cell’s genetic instructions (DNA) that tell the cell to self-destruct. These DNA parts in the cancer cell were previously silenced when they shouldn’t have been.
Newly diagnosed AML patients who have medical conditions that prevent the use of intensive chemotherapy are approved by the FDA to take venetoclax in combination with a hypomethylating agent.
AML patients are usually advised to take venetoclax every day during the month and the HMA, like oral azacitidine, during the first two weeks. Each 28-day period, roughly one month, represents one treatment cycle. The medication administration rules restart with each cycle.
AML specialists wanted to review if treating AML for only seven days with an HMA followed by seven days of venetoclax during each cycle would benefit patients instead of the more extended treatment period.
Dr. Bazinet and his colleagues’ study results found the following about shortening venetoclax + HMA treatment cycles:
In conclusion, Dr. Bazinet’s study shows several benefits of shortening venetoclax + HMA cycles for frail AML patients. Further studies will help assess the effectiveness of this treatment administration method.
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AML specialist Dr. Alexandre Bazinet from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, shared findings at the ASCO 2024 conference in June about the benefits AML patients who are elderly or too weak to qualify for intensive chemotherapy may receive from shortening the venetoclax + hypomethylating agent (HMA) treatment cycle. Read a summary of the key findings below.
Venetoclax (Venclexta) is a non-chemotherapy medicine given in the form of a pill. It targets cancerous AML cells by blocking the BCL-2 protein, which regulates cell survival and death. Overproduction of BCL-2 is common in cancer cells, and blocking it with venetoclax causes the cancer cells to die.
Hypomethylating agents (HMA) like azacitidine (Vidaza or Onureg) and decitabine (Dacogen) work to kill AML cells by re-activating parts of the cancer cell’s genetic instructions (DNA) that tell the cell to self-destruct. These DNA parts in the cancer cell were previously silenced when they shouldn’t have been.
Newly diagnosed AML patients who have medical conditions that prevent the use of intensive chemotherapy are approved by the FDA to take venetoclax in combination with a hypomethylating agent.
AML patients are usually advised to take venetoclax every day during the month and the HMA, like oral azacitidine, during the first two weeks. Each 28-day period, roughly one month, represents one treatment cycle. The medication administration rules restart with each cycle.
AML specialists wanted to review if treating AML for only seven days with an HMA followed by seven days of venetoclax during each cycle would benefit patients instead of the more extended treatment period.
Dr. Bazinet and his colleagues’ study results found the following about shortening venetoclax + HMA treatment cycles:
In conclusion, Dr. Bazinet’s study shows several benefits of shortening venetoclax + HMA cycles for frail AML patients. Further studies will help assess the effectiveness of this treatment administration method.
We invite you to click the button below to subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest advancements in acute myeloid leukemia.
JOIN THE HEALTHTREE FOR AML NEWSLETTER
about the author
Megan Heaps
Megan joined HealthTree in 2022. As a writer and the daughter of a blood cancer patient, she is dedicated to helping patients and their caregivers understand the various aspects of their disease. This understanding enables them to better advocate for themselves and improve their treatment outcomes. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, and cooking.
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