Evolving Landscape of AML Therapy

This segment outlines the thematic focus on advancements in AML therapeutics. The discussion centers on how rapidly the treatment landscape has transformed over the past several years, driven largely by targeted therapies, combination regimens, and improved genomic understanding. Panelists reflect on how molecular diagnostics have become essential for guiding initial treatment decisions, shifting AML away from a one-size-fits-all model toward a far more individualized approach. They emphasize that even frontline treatment strategies now hinge on early mutational profiling, cytogenetics, and disease biology, which help distinguish patients who benefit from intensive chemotherapy versus those who achieve equal or better outcomes with lower-intensity regimens.

The discussion highlights the significant impact of venetoclax-based therapy in older and unfit patients, noting its widespread adoption and the dramatic increase in response rates observed since its introduction. At the same time, they acknowledge ongoing challenges, particularly around managing prolonged cytopenias, tailoring cycle lengths, and determining how to integrate venetoclax with emerging targeted agents. The panel also identifies major unmet needs, including improving outcomes for TP53-mutated AML and other high-risk subsets. Early enthusiasm surrounding menin inhibitors is introduced as an example of how new drug classes are generating optimism for historically difficult-to-treat molecular groups, such as KMT2A-rearranged and NPM1-mutated AML.