Outcomes of adults with refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia treated with azacitidine and venetoclax compared to other therapies: a multicenter retrospective study

This study reports characteristics and outcomes of adults who received Azacitidine-Venetoclax (AZA-VEN) compared to other salvage therapies (NO-AZA-VEN) as first salvage therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The clinical data of 81 patients with a diagnosis of relapsed or refractory AML were analyzed. The ORR was comparable for both groups (55% vs 57%, <i>p</i> = 0.852). Median OS (6.8 vs 11.2 months, <i>p</i> = 0.053) and median RFS (6.9 vs 11.2 months, <i>p</i> = 0.488) showed a trend in favor of the NO-AZA-VEN group. OS was significantly longer with NO-AZA-VEN for ELN 2022 risk category sub-group, patients under 60 years old, primary AML and for patients who underwent allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplant after salvage therapy. There was no statistical difference in complications of treatment such as febrile neutropenia, intensive care unit stay, septic shock and total parenteral nutrition. Those results do not support the preferential use of AZA-VEN over other regimens in R/R acute myeloid leukemia.