Multicenter retrospective analysis of the short-term efficacy and safety of the VAH regimen in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of the triple-drug combination regimen of venetoclax + azacitidine + homoharringtonine (VAH regimen) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was conducted on a total of 45 patients with newly diagnosed or refractory/relapsed AML, who were admitted to the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, the First Affiliated Hospital, and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, the Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, and The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from July 2022 to October 2024 and treated with the VAH regimen. The overall response rate and safety of this regimen were analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed.

RESULTS

In the 23 newly treated patients, the overall response rate (ORR) (CR+CRi) was 65.2 % on day 15 of the VAH regimen and 82.6 % on day 29 after the end of cycle 1. The median duration of grade 3-4 neutropenia was 12.6 days. In the 22 refractory/relapsed patients, the ORR (CR+CRi) was 68.2 % on day 15 of the VAH regimen and 86.4 % on day 29 after the end of cycle 1, and the median duration of neutropenia was 14.4 days. The most common adverse reactions were myelosuppression and infection, both of which were within controllable limits. There was no death due to adverse reactions during treatment.

CONCLUSION

The VAH regimen yields a high remission rate in newly diagnosed and refractory/relapsed AML patients. This retrospective study provides a novel treatment strategy for AML patients.