Dr. DiNardo on the Rationale for the Pooled Analysis Evaluating Venetoclax in AML

Courtney DiNardo, MD, MSCE, clinical researcher in the Department of Leukemia of the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the rational​e for a pooled analysis evaluating venetoclax (Venclexta) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Investigators combined data from 2 previous phase 1/2 studies aimed to categorize responses to venetoclax in older patients with AML, says DiNardo.

The first study evaluated venetoclax in combination with hypomethylating agents in 115 patients with AML, explains DiNardo. The second investigated the role of low-dose cytarabine plus venetoclax in 82 patients.

The goal of the analysis was to determine the likelihood of response with venetoclax and ​establish an optimal treatment duration for patients who do not have an immediate response to therapy, says DiNardo. In practice, patients receiving azacitidine (Vidaza) or decitabine (Dacogen) alone could have delayed responses that do not occur until after 4 to 6 cycles of treatment.

Conversely, the pooled analysis showed that the combination regimens with venetoclax can elicit rapid responses in patients with AML, concludes DiNardo.