Dr. Talati on Rationale for Collecting Real-World Data on Venetoclax/HMA Combos in AML

Chetasi Talati, MD, an assistant member in the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the design of a chart review study with venetoclax (Venclexta) and hypomethylating agents (HMAs) in older patients with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The abstract presented during the 2020 European Hematology Association Annual Congress included adult patients with AML who received venetoclax in combination with HMAs or low-dose cytarabine (Cytosar-U®). In this multicenter, retrospective study, Talati explains that investigators are trying to assess how venetoclax is being used in the real-world setting. There are differing opinions on how to best utilize HMA/venetoclax combinations in this space, says Talati. Different geographical areas and institutions all have their own standards of care. Additionally, the antimicrobial agents that are being used as prophylactic medications, dose reductions with venetoclax and HMAs, and scheduling of medications all varies depending on the practice, says Talati.

Additionally, in older patients specifically, there is a group of patients who are still considered borderline to receive intensive chemotherapy, adds Talati. It is unknown whether a HMA/venetoclax combination is more beneficial than intensive chemotherapy in this patient population. That type of prospective study may never be conducted; therefore the idea behind this research is to use retrospective data collected from multiple institutions on patients who have been treated with different approaches, dosing schema, and schedules, and compare them with intensive chemotherapy regimens, concludes Talati.