All content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals only. By acknowledging this message and accessing the information on this website you are confirming that you are a Healthcare Professional. If you are a patient or carer, please visit Know AML.

The AML Hub uses cookies on this website. They help us give you the best online experience. By continuing to use our website without changing your cookie settings, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our updated Cookie Policy

Introducing

Now you can personalise
your AML Hub experience!

Bookmark content to read later

Select your specific areas of interest

View content recommended for you

Find out more
  TRANSLATE

The AML Hub website uses a third-party service provided by Google that dynamically translates web content. Translations are machine generated, so may not be an exact or complete translation, and the AML Hub cannot guarantee the accuracy of translated content. The AML Hub and its employees will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages (even if foreseeable) resulting from use of the Google Translate feature. For further support with Google Translate, visit Google Translate Help.

Steering CommitteeAbout UsNewsletterContact
LOADING
You're logged in! Click here any time to manage your account or log out.
LOADING
You're logged in! Click here any time to manage your account or log out.
2021-11-19T14:46:01.000Z

Venetoclax with intensive chemotherapy for younger patients with ND AML, or MDS

Nov 19, 2021
Share:

Intensive chemotherapy regimens have been the mainstay of newly diagnosed (ND) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) induction therapy for several decades. During this time, alterations to the standard backbone therapy have yielded improved response rates, longer remissions, and improved survival in those who are fit and <60 years. Such regimens include the CLIA regimen (cladribine with higher dose cytarabine and idarubicin) which has been shown to achieve high complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) rates in a small study of patients with a mean age of 54.1 Further, the addition of the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax, improves CR and PR rates in older patients (≥75 years) or unfit patients treated with a lower intensity treatment regimen using hypomethylating agents (HMA).1

In their recent Lancet Haematology publication, Kadia et al.1 reported on the safety and activity of venetoclax in combination with CLIA in younger patients (<65 years old) with AML, which we summarize here.

Study design

  • Single center, single-arm cohort study (independent cohort added to a larger phase II trial; NCT02115295)
  • Included patients were 18–65 years old, had ND AML, mixed phenotype acute leukemia, or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2, and had not previously received potentially curative therapy for leukemia
  • Treatment regimens are detailed in Figure 1
  • Primary outcome: Composite CR or a CR with incomplete blood count recovery (according to the modified International Working Group criteria; measured from Day 1 until the absolute neutrophil count was ≥1,000 cells per μL, platelet count was ≥50,000 platelets per μL, or both)
  • Secondary and exploratory outcomes: Overall response rate, overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), duration of response, safety, and OS and EFS stratified by concomitant FLT3 inhibitor receipt and measurable residual disease (MRD) status.

Figure 1. Induction and consolidation treatment regimens

*Adapted from Kadia et al.1
Intravenously (IV), 5 mg/m2.
IV, 1.5 g/m2 in patients aged >60 years, 1 g/m2 in patients aged ≥60 years.
§IV, 10 mgm2.
ǁ400 mg.
IV, 1 g/m2 in patients aged <60 years, 0.75 g/m2 in patients aged ≥60 years.
#IV, 8 mg/m2.
Eligible patients in first complete response were offered allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Treatment could continue for up to six courses.
 

Results

Patients (N = 50) had a median age of 48, were mostly male (56%) with AML (90%), and 50% had a diploid karyotype (Table 1).

Table 1. Patient baseline characteristics*

Characteristic, % (unless otherwise stated)

Patients
(N = 50)

Median age, years (IQR)

48 (37–56)

Race or ethnicity

              White

60

              Black

20

              Asian

4

              Hispanic

2

              Other

14

Sex

              Female

44

Diagnosis

              AML

90

              MDS                   

8

              Mixed phenotype acute leukemia

2

Cytogenetic group

              Favorable

2

              Diploid

50

              Other intermediate

16

              Adverse of complex

20

              Insufficient mitoses

10

AML, acute myeloid leukemia; ELN, European Leukemia Network; IQR, interquartile range; MDS, myelodysplastic syndromes.
*Adapted from Kadia et al.1

Kadia et al.1 reported a composite CR in 94% of patients, which included a CR in 84% and CR with incomplete blood count in 10% of patients (Table 2). Of the 45 patients eligible for assessment, 82% achieved MRD negativity during the course of the study. Median OS and EFS were not reached over a median follow-up of 13.5 months, the estimated 12-month OS was 85% (95% confidence interval [CI], 75–97), and estimated 12-month EFS was 68% (95% CI, 54–85; Table 2). There were two patients who did not respond.

Table 2. Patient response*

Outcome, % (95% CI) unless otherwise stated

Overall
(N = 50)

CLIA plus venetoclax
(n = 41)

CLIA plus venetoclax plus FLT3 inhibitor
(n = 9)

Composite CR

94 (83–98)

95 (84–99)

89 (56–99)

Best response

              CR

84 (72–92)

85 (72–93)

78 (45–94)

              CR with incomplete blood count

10 (4–21)

10 (4–23)

11 (2–44)

              No response

4 (1–14)

5 (1–16)

0 (0–30)

              Died during induction

2 (0–11)

0 (0–9)

11 (2–43)

MRD-negative after induction

71 (57–82)

72 (56–83)

50 (22–78)

MRD-negative on study

82 (68–92)

94 (72–94)

62 (31–86)

Median number of courses given (IQR)

2 (2–3)

2 (2–3)

2 (1–2)

Median days to count recovery after induction (IQR)

27 (25–37)

27 (25–31)

38 (34–40)

Responders who received allo-HSCT

62 (47–74)

60 (43–73)

75 (41–93)

12-month OS

85 (75–97)

90 (80–100)

64 (38–100)

12-month EFS

68 (54–85)

73 (58–92)

51 (26–100)

12-month duration of response

74 (60–92)

Allo-HSCT, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; CI, confidence interval; CLIA, cladribine, high dose cytarabine, and idarubicin; CR, complete response; EFS, event-free survival; IQR, interquartile range; MRD, measurable residual disease; OS, overall survival.
*Adapted from Kadia et al.1
Estimated.

Overall, the most frequently reported Grade 3–4 adverse events were febrile neutropenia (84% of patients), infection (12%), and raised alanine aminotransferase (12%). Adverse events by treatment course are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Most common adverse events*

Adverse event, %

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3–4

During the first treatment course (N = 50)

ALT elevation

46

12

10

AST elevation

12

0

4

Bilirubin elevation

4

4

2

Cough

10

0

0

Diarrhea

22

0

4

Fatigue

54

0

0

Febrile neutropenia

0

0

78

Mucositis

32

2

0

Nausea

26

0

0

Pain

22

0

0

Rash or desquamation

26

0

2

During the second treatment course (n = 44)

ALT elevation

9

2

16

Cough

5

0

5

Diarrhea

5

0

5

Fatigue

5

0

5

Febrile neutropenia

0

0

36

Other infection

2

0

11

Nausea

5

0

5

Pain

5

0

5

Petechiae, purpura or bruising

5

0

5

Vomiting

5

0

5

During the third treatment course (n = 18)

Febrile neutropenia

0

0

11

ALT, alanine aminotransferase elevation; AST, aspartate aminotransferase elevation.
*Adapted from Kadia et al.1
Includes adverse events that occurred in >10% of patients.

Three patients who received CLIA died during the study; one from bacteremia and sepsis during induction, and two from infectious complications whilst cytopenic. None were deemed treatment related.

Conclusion

The addition of venetoclax to the CLIA high intensity chemotherapy regimen resulted in durable CRs in patients with ND AML and high-risk MDS, with high rates of MRD-negativity. The authors considered that these data compared favorably with other published studies in similar patient groups without venetoclax. However, they cautioned against drawing cross-trial comparisons, highlighting the single center, single arm nature of this study as a limitation, alongside the small subgroup numbers. Nonetheless, they concluded that the study was a basis for future randomized controlled trials to confirm the potential benefit that venetoclax plus CLIA may offer to younger, fit, ND AML patients.

  1. Kadia TM, Reville PK, Borthakur G, et al. Venetoclax plus intensive chemotherapy with cladribine, idarubicin, and cytarabine in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome: A cohort from a single-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial. Lancet Haematol. 2021;8(8):e552-e561. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(21)00192-7

Your opinion matters

HCPs, what is your preferred format for educational content on the AML Hub?
7 votes - 36 days left ...

Newsletter

Subscribe to get the best content related to AML delivered to your inbox