An All-Oral Approach to Treating Acute Myeloid Leukemia

For older adults and other patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, the standard of care for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hypomethylating agent such as azacitidine or decitabine plus the B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor venetoclax. However, the parenteral administration of the hypomethylating agent during part of each cycle can be burdensome, making an all-oral regimen appealing.

In this industry-sponsored, open-label, phase 1–2 trial, 189 patients with newly diagnosed AML received oral decitabine–cedazuridine plus oral venetoclax. All were at least 75 years of age or ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Dose reductions of both drugs were allowed starting in cycle 2 for delayed recovery of blood counts, and most patients rece…