Low-dose decitabine plus venetoclax as post-transplant maintenance for high-risk myeloid malignancies

EJHaem. 2024 May 15;5(3):560-564. doi: 10.1002/jha2.915. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Relapse remains a major cause of treatment failure following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We retrospectively investigated low-dose decitabine and venetoclax (DEC/VEN) as post-transplant maintenance in 26 older patients with AML and MDS. The cumulative incidence of day 100 gIII-IV acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) and 1-year moderate-severe chronic GVHD was 5% and 26%, respectively. One patient relapsed 14 m after transplant. The 1-year non-relapse mortality and survival were 11% and 84%, respectively. DEC/VEN is a safe and potentially effective strategy to reduce the risk of post-transplant relapse.

Keywords: decitabine; maintenance chemotherapy; myeloid leukemia; post‐transplant; venetoclax.