EFFICACY OF VENETOCLAX AND AZACITIDINE FOR TARGETING LEUKEMIC STEM CELL IN ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA Authors: Kasturia P , SHARMA RK, CHATURVEDI P, DOHARE R AND SHAH SR*
ABSTRACT
Venetoclax in combination with Azacitidine has demonstrated the ability to regulate cell
survival, with tolerable safety and favourable overall responses in older adult patients with
AML. This novel combination regimen has shown efficacy even in high risk groups, such as
those aged 75 or older, patients with poor cytogenetics, and those with secondary AML. The
addition of Venetoclax enhanced the effect of Azacitidine on in vivo survival, and this
combination has been effective in disrupting the metabolic machinery that drives energy
metabolism, leading to the eradication of leukemia stem cells. In this study, the growth of
hematopoietic and leukemic stem cells were analyzed using a mathematical model that
considers the bone marrow as a system of "well-mixed" tanks of cells at different stages of
differentiation. Mathematical analysis focused on parameters such as self-renewal,
proliferation, and apoptosis, assessing the impact of Venetoclax in combination with
Azacitidine. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) protein is critical for the survival and persistence
of AML blasts, and Venetoclax targets this protein to regulate cell survival. In AML,
overexpression of BCL-2 contributes to the survival of leukemic cells, including AML blasts.
Azacitidine, on the other hand, works by inhibiting DNA methylation and promoting cell death. Overall, the combination of Venetoclax and Azacitidine offers a promising therapeutic
approach for AML, particularly in older adults and high risk patient groups. By targeting key
pathways involved in cell survival and metabolism, this combination regimen holds potential
for improving outcomes in AML patients.
Keywords: Venetoclax; Azacitidine; Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML); Hematopoietic
Stem Cells (HSC); Leukemic Stem Cells (LSC) Publication date: 01/06/2024 https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2024/June/MS_IJBPAS_2024_8960.pdfDownload PDFhttps://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2024/13.6.8960