Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities

Abstract The combination of venetoclax and hypomethylating agents (VEN + HMAs) has shown significant progress in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially for patients not suitable for intensive chemotherapy. However, outcomes for relapsed/refractory AML remain uncertain, and factors influen...

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Main Authors: Leiming Xia, Mengni Qu, Ling Ge, Yingying Chen, Beibei Zhou, Ting Shi, Yang Liu, Min Ruan, Liang Xia, Jian Hong, Jianjun Li, Wei Qian, Yu Zhang, Lei Jiang, Yiming Zhao, Wanlu Tian, Zhenqi Huang, Fengbo Jin, Jian Ge, Mingzhen Yang, Qingshu Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03858-z
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author Leiming Xia
Mengni Qu
Ling Ge
Yingying Chen
Beibei Zhou
Ting Shi
Yang Liu
Min Ruan
Liang Xia
Jian Hong
Jianjun Li
Wei Qian
Yu Zhang
Lei Jiang
Yiming Zhao
Wanlu Tian
Zhenqi Huang
Fengbo Jin
Jian Ge
Mingzhen Yang
Qingshu Zeng
author_facet Leiming Xia
Mengni Qu
Ling Ge
Yingying Chen
Beibei Zhou
Ting Shi
Yang Liu
Min Ruan
Liang Xia
Jian Hong
Jianjun Li
Wei Qian
Yu Zhang
Lei Jiang
Yiming Zhao
Wanlu Tian
Zhenqi Huang
Fengbo Jin
Jian Ge
Mingzhen Yang
Qingshu Zeng
author_sort Leiming Xia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The combination of venetoclax and hypomethylating agents (VEN + HMAs) has shown significant progress in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially for patients not suitable for intensive chemotherapy. However, outcomes for relapsed/refractory AML remain uncertain, and factors influencing VEN + HMAs efficacy are not yet conclusively determined. A retrospective analysis of 181 AML patients treated with VEN + HMAs from October 2020 to January 2024 revealed a CR rate of 39.2%, CR/CRi of 52.5%, ORR of 63.5%, and MRD negativity of 47.3% in patients receiving at least 7 days of treatment. Newly diagnosed patients had better outcomes than the relapsed/refractory group, with CEBPA or IDH1 mutations associated with better CR/CRi rates. Optimization of the treatment regimen with azacitidine may lead to higher CR/CRi rates and MRD negativity. Continuous VEN use over 21 days or maintaining a higher blood concentration may improve outcomes for newly diagnosed AML patients. Hematologic adverse events were common, but there were no significant differences in event rates or recovery times among different VEN treatment durations. VEN + HMAs shows promise in newly diagnosed AML but has limited efficacy in relapsed/refractory AML, indicating a need for more effective strategies. Genetic background, such as CEBPA or IDH1 mutations, influences VEN efficacy, with those mutations showing better CR/CRi rates. Choosing azacitidine for treatment and continuing VEN for over 21 days or at higher concentrations may lead to better responses in AML patients. Trial registration Clinical trial registration: we confirmed that our clinical trial has been officially registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) and has been assigned the unique registration number: ChiCTR2400090821.
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spelling doaj-art-b64d5bed91a84425a53b0353d29220a02025-08-20T03:45:32ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-07-0125112210.1186/s12935-025-03858-zEfficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicitiesLeiming Xia0Mengni Qu1Ling Ge2Yingying Chen3Beibei Zhou4Ting Shi5Yang Liu6Min Ruan7Liang Xia8Jian Hong9Jianjun Li10Wei Qian11Yu Zhang12Lei Jiang13Yiming Zhao14Wanlu Tian15Zhenqi Huang16Fengbo Jin17Jian Ge18Mingzhen Yang19Qingshu Zeng20Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityDepartment of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAbstract The combination of venetoclax and hypomethylating agents (VEN + HMAs) has shown significant progress in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially for patients not suitable for intensive chemotherapy. However, outcomes for relapsed/refractory AML remain uncertain, and factors influencing VEN + HMAs efficacy are not yet conclusively determined. A retrospective analysis of 181 AML patients treated with VEN + HMAs from October 2020 to January 2024 revealed a CR rate of 39.2%, CR/CRi of 52.5%, ORR of 63.5%, and MRD negativity of 47.3% in patients receiving at least 7 days of treatment. Newly diagnosed patients had better outcomes than the relapsed/refractory group, with CEBPA or IDH1 mutations associated with better CR/CRi rates. Optimization of the treatment regimen with azacitidine may lead to higher CR/CRi rates and MRD negativity. Continuous VEN use over 21 days or maintaining a higher blood concentration may improve outcomes for newly diagnosed AML patients. Hematologic adverse events were common, but there were no significant differences in event rates or recovery times among different VEN treatment durations. VEN + HMAs shows promise in newly diagnosed AML but has limited efficacy in relapsed/refractory AML, indicating a need for more effective strategies. Genetic background, such as CEBPA or IDH1 mutations, influences VEN efficacy, with those mutations showing better CR/CRi rates. Choosing azacitidine for treatment and continuing VEN for over 21 days or at higher concentrations may lead to better responses in AML patients. Trial registration Clinical trial registration: we confirmed that our clinical trial has been officially registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) and has been assigned the unique registration number: ChiCTR2400090821.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03858-zVenetoclaxHypomethylating agentsAcute myeloid leukemiaInduction therapyEfficacyHematologic toxicities
spellingShingle Leiming Xia
Mengni Qu
Ling Ge
Yingying Chen
Beibei Zhou
Ting Shi
Yang Liu
Min Ruan
Liang Xia
Jian Hong
Jianjun Li
Wei Qian
Yu Zhang
Lei Jiang
Yiming Zhao
Wanlu Tian
Zhenqi Huang
Fengbo Jin
Jian Ge
Mingzhen Yang
Qingshu Zeng
Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities
Cancer Cell International
Venetoclax
Hypomethylating agents
Acute myeloid leukemia
Induction therapy
Efficacy
Hematologic toxicities
title Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities
title_full Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities
title_fullStr Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities
title_short Efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a multi-center real-world study on indication-specific stratification, molecular markers, and hematologic toxicities
title_sort efficacy and prognostic analysis of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents for induction therapy in acute myeloid leukemia a multi center real world study on indication specific stratification molecular markers and hematologic toxicities
topic Venetoclax
Hypomethylating agents
Acute myeloid leukemia
Induction therapy
Efficacy
Hematologic toxicities
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03858-z
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