Impact of venetoclax trough levels on safety and efficacy in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Venetoclax-azacitidine chemotherapy is a key treatment for older or medically unfit patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As venetoclax is metabolized via cytochrome P450 3 A, dose adjustments are required when combined with antifungal agents. However, data on venetoclax concentrations and their impact on safety and efficacy remain limited. This study analyzed the association between venetoclax trough levels and treatment outcomes in 152 AML patients (median age: 70 years). The median trough level was 1,518 ng/mL (range: 60-11,328 ng/mL), with significant interindividual variability, even after adjusting for antifungal use. High venetoclax trough levels were significantly associated with elevated creatinine and total bilirubin levels. Patients with trough levels below 1857.3 ng/mL had lower rates of hematologic toxicity during the first treatment cycle (92.9% vs. 100%, P = 0.041). In the second cycle, hematologic toxicity was lower in patients with concentrations below 1,299.3 ng/mL (68% vs. 90%, P = 0.009). In the treatment-naïve group, trough levels above 1857.3 ng/mL were associated with a higher composite complete remission rate (77.3% vs. 47.8%, P = 0.042). These findings highlight the need for venetoclax dose optimization based on drug levels to improve both safety and efficacy in AML treatment.
Source: Scientific Reports
Authors: Hiromi Hayashi, Takeo Yamagiwa, Junya Kanda, Takayuki Ishikawa, Masashi Sawa, Yasuko Miyahara, Takayoshi Tachibana, Mitsumasa Watanabe, Yasunori Ueda, Yasuhiko Tsutsumi, Kazunori Imada, Shin-ichiro Fujiwara, Tomomi Toubai, Kota Yoshifuji, Hirokazu Hirata, Hiroshi Kawabata, Masaaki Tsuji, Satoshi Wakita, Hiroki Yokoyama, Toshiyuki Kitano, Kazunori Murai, Yoshihisa Kataoka, Eri Kawata, Shun-ichi Kimura, Ryusuke Yamamoto, Kotaro Miyao, Daisuke Nakayama, Akihiko Izumi, Takahito Kawata, Yoshiyuki Onda, Takashi Sakamoto, Chisaki Mizumoto, Toshio Kitawaki, Kouhei Yamashita, Atsushi Yonezawa, Tomoya Kawakami, Shunsaku Nakagawa, Risa Taniguchi, Tomohiro Terada, Akifumi Takaori-Kondo
Institutions: Kyoto University, Kyoto University Hospital, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Kyoto City Hospital, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki General Medical Center, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Japanese Red Cross Society Kyoto Daini Hospital, Osaka Hospital, Osaka Red Cross Hospital, Jichi Medical University, Yamagata University Hospital, Institute of Science Tokyo, Kansai Electric Power (Japan), Kansai Electric Power Hospital, Kyoto Medical Center, Otsu Red Cross Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Jikei University School of Medicine, Kitano Hospital, Iwate Prefectural Central Hospital, Ikeda Municipal Hospital, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Keio University
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
OpenAlex ID: W7128314837