Cytopenia Management In Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treated With Venetoclax Plus Azacitidine In The Viale-A Study

Background: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are older or ineligible for intensive induction chemotherapy have limited treatment options and poor survival. In the VIALE-A study, venetoclax (Ven) + azacitidine (Aza) improved overall survival and response rates compared with placebo (Pbo) + Aza in older or unfit patients with newly diagnosed AML (DiNardo et al. N Engl J Med. 2020). Although cytopenia is common in AML, Ven+Aza was associated with hematologic adverse events in 83% of patients in the VIALE-A study (vs 69% in the Pbo+Aza arm). Here, the frequency and management of cytopenia are analyzed in patients achieving a best response of complete remission (CR) or CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) in the VIALE-A study.