Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3843
https://doi.org/
10.69639/arandu.v13i1.2284
Venetoclax Combination Regimens in Relapsed or Refractory
Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Systematic Review

Regímenes de combinación con Venetoclax en la leucemia mieloide aguda recidivante o
refractaria: una revisión sistemática

Carlos Camargo

carcamargom@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4045-4050

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Colombia Bogotá D.C.

Sebastián Villamizar Castellanos

svillamizarc@unal.edu.co

https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2365-3729

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Colombia Bogotá D.C.

Jenny Andrea Santisteban

jandreasanty@gmail.com

Fundación Universitaria Ciencias de la Salud

Colombia Bogotá D.C.

Kevin Mosquera Restrepo

kevalmore95@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4722-7030

Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia

Bello, Antioquia, Colombia

Gloria Ibis Tirado Romero

gloriatirado1987@gmail.com

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3759-5448

Fundación Universitaria Ciencias de la Salud

Colombia Bogotá D.C.

Artículo recibido: 10 abril 2026 - Aceptado para publicación:16 mayo 2026

Conflictos de intereses: Ninguno que declarar.

ABSTRACT

Purpose
: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with
chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents in adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute

myeloid leukemia who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.
Methods: A systematic review
of randomized and observational studies was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and the

Cochrane Library through October 2024. Eligible studies included adult patients with relapsed or

refractory acute myeloid leukemia treated with venetoc
lax-based combination regimens. Primary
outcomes were overall survival, compl
ete remission rates, and treatment-related adverse events.
Results
: Of 447 identified records, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Venetoclax combined
with azacitidine showed improved overall survival and higher complete remission rates compared
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3844
with decitabine
-based regimens and was associated with fewer severe hematologic and infectious
adverse events.
Discussion: Venetoclax combined with azacitidine demonstrated superior
efficacy and tolerability compared with decitabine
-based regimens in relapsed or refractory acute
myeloid leukemia. These findings support its use in patients ineligible for intensive

chemotherapy,
although further studies are needed to define responsive subgroups and long-term
outcomes.

Keywords:
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Antineoplastic Agents; Survival Rate; Remission
Induction

RESUMEN

Objetivo: Este estudio evaluó la eficacia y la seguridad de venetoclax en combinación con

quimioterapia o agentes hipometilantes en pacientes adultos con leucemia mieloide aguda

recidivante o
refractaria no candidatos a quimioterapia intensiva. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión
sistemática de estudios aleatorizados y observacionales utilizando MEDLINE, Embase y

Cochrane Library hasta octubre de 2024. Los estudios seleccionados incluyeron a pacie
ntes
adultos con leucemia mieloide aguda recidivante o refractaria tratados con regímenes combinados

basados
en venetoclax. Los resultados principales fueron la supervivencia global, las tasas de
remisión completa y los acontecimientos adversos relaciona
dos con el tratamiento. Resultados:
De los 447 registros identificados, 12 estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. La

combinación de venetoclax y azacitidina mostró una mejor supervivencia global y tasas de

remisión completa más elevadas en compara
ción con los regímenes basados en decitabina,
además de asociarse con una menor incidencia de acontecimientos adversos graves de tipo

hematológico e infeccioso. Discusión: La combinación de venetoclax y azacitidina demostró una

eficacia y tolerabilidad s
uperiores frente a los regímenes basados en decitabina en el tratamiento
de la leucemia mieloide aguda recidivante o refractaria. Estos hallazgos respaldan su uso en

pacientes no candidatos a quimioterapia intensiva, si bien se requieren estudios adicion
ales para
definir los subgrupos con mejor respuesta y los resultados a largo plazo.

Palabras clave:
Leucemia mieloide aguda; Agentes antineoplásicos; Tasa de
supervivencia; Inducción de remisión

Todo el contenido de la Revista Científica Internacional Arandu UTIC publicado en este sitio está disponible bajo
licencia Creative Commons Atribution 4.0 International.
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3845
INTRODUC
TION
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic neoplasm characterized by the clonal

proliferation of immature myeloid precursors in the bone marrow, leading to rapid progression

and a poor prognosis without appropriate treatment. Despite advances in initial
treatment, relapse
remains a significant challenge for AML patients, with limited response rates and significant

toxicities associated with conventional therapies. Traditionally, intensive chemotherapy has been

the cornerstone of treatment; however, high
toxicity rates and limited response have driven the
research for new therapies that are less toxic and more effective (
11).
In recent years, the selective BCL
-2 inhibitor, venetoclax, has emerged as a promising
therapy in combination with hypomethylating agents (such as azacitidine and decitabine) and with

conventional chemotherapies. Recent studies have demonstrated that the c
ombination of
venetoclax with hypomethylating agents significantly improves overall response rates in patients

with relapsed or refractory AML, especially in those who are not candidates for intensive

chemotherapy due to comorbidities or advanced age. In t
he combination of venetoclax with
azacitidine, overall survival has shown a notable increase compared to standard treatments in

patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy, achieving complete remission rates of 66.4% compared

to 28.3% with azacitidine alone,
according to the VIALE-A trial (2023) (2).
However, unresolved questions remain regarding the long
-term impact of these
combinations on overall survival, as well as the biological and clinical factors that predict

treatment response. The biological heterogeneity of AML suggests that certain subgrou
ps of
patients may benefit more from these combinations. For example, patients with FLT3 mutations

receiving venetoclax in combination with gilteritinib have demonstrated significant molecular
-
level tumor burden reduction, indicating the need for further s
tudies to validate the benefit in
specific subgroups (
11,4).
The objective of this study is to evaluate the overall survival of patients with relapsed or

refractory AML treated with venetoclax in combination with chemotherapy or hypomethylating

agents.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Venetoclax

in combination with chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents on the overall survival of patients

with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Selection Criteria

Studies

Randomized clinical trials, non
-randomized studies, case series, and prospective and
retrospective observational studies that assessed the use of Venetoclax in combination with

chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents in patients with relapsed or refractory
AML were
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3846
included. Studies that did not report overall survival data or those in which Venetoclax was not

administered as part of a combination regimen were excluded.

Participants

Studies reporting data on adult patients (over 18 years of age) with a confirmed diagnosis

of acute myeloid leukemia, who had relapsed or refractory disease and were treated with

Venetoclax in combination with chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents, were i
ncluded.
Interventions

The intervention assessed was treatment with Venetoclax administered in combination with

conventional chemotherapy regimens (e.g., cytarabine, daunorubicin) or hypomethylating agents

(e.g., azacitidine, decitabine). Studies where Venetoclax was used as mon
otherapy were not
included.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was overall survival (OS), defined as the time from the initiation of

Venetoclax treatment until death from any cause.

Secondary outcomes included the complete remission (CR) rate, progression
-free survival
(PFS), disease
-free survival (DFS), and the incidence of severe adverse events (grade ≥ 3).
Search Methods for Study Identification

Systematic searches were conducted in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane

Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from

inception through October 2024. Search terms included combinations of keywords and MeSH

terms related to "Venetoclax," "acute myeloid leukemia," "AML," "relapsed," "refractory," and

"survival." Specific terms used were "Venetoclax," "acute myeloid leukemia," "relapsed,"

"refractory," "overall survival," "chemotherapy," and "hypomethylating ag
ents."
A manual search of the reference lists of included studies and recent relevant reviews was

conducted to identify additional studies not captured by electronic databases. Experts in the field

were also contacted to identify unpublished or ongoing literature
.
Data Collection and Analysis

Two reviewers independently conducted the study selection by screening titles and

abstracts to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Full texts of potentially eligible studies

were reviewed in detail. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus or
by consulting a third
reviewer.

Data from the included studies were independently extracted by two reviewers using a

standardized form. Extracted data included study characteristics (design, sample size, type of

intervention), participant characteristics, primary and secondary outcomes,
and adverse event
data. Discrepancies in data extraction were resolved by consensus.

The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane tool

for assessing the risk of bias in clinical trials (for randomized studies) and the Newcastle
-Ottawa
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3847
scale for observational studies. Each study was evaluated for factors such as selection bias,

confounding bias, reporting bias, and other potential biases.

A qualitative synthesis of the findings from the included studies was conducted, describing

overall survival, complete remission rates, and the incidence of adverse events.

RESULTS

Search Results

During the study selection process, 447 records were identified through database searches

and specialized registries. After removing 30 duplicate studies, 417 unique studies were

evaluated. Following the evaluation of titles and abstracts, 370 studies were
excluded due to lack
of relevance. A total of 47 full
-text studies were assessed. Finally, 12 studies were included in the
systematic review, providing crucial information on the effectiveness of Venetoclax in

combination with other agents in the treatmen
t of patients with relapsed or refractory AML.
Figure 1

PRISMA Flow Diagram

Primary Studies (see Table 1)
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3848
Overall Survival

Overall survival (OS) was evaluated in two primary studies. Fukumoto et al. (2023) (8)

reported a median OS of 287 days in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia

(AML) treated with Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine or low
-dose cytarabine. In the
trial by DiNardo et al. (2020) (5), the median OS in refractory AML patients treated with

Venetoclax and decitabine was 7.8 months, suggesting a moderate improvement in survival

compared to conventional treatments.

Complete and Partial Remission Rates

Remission rates were reported in all the included studies. Fukumoto et al. (2023) (8)

indicated a complete remission or complete remission with incomplete recovery (CR/CRi
) rate of
73.1%, while the study by DiNardo et al. (2020) (5) reported an overall response rate (including

complete and partial remission) of 62% in refractory AML patients. The study by Che et al. (2024)

(
4) compared Venetoclax combined with azacitidine versus Venetoclax combined with
decitabine, finding a higher complete remission rate in the azacitidine group (8%) compared to

the decitabine group (4%). Similarly, the partial remission rate was higher in th
e azacitidine group
(18%) compared to the decitab
ine group (10%). Wang et al. (2022) (15) also reported high
efficacy of Venetoclax combined with azacitidine, with an overall response rate of 90% in elderly

patients with relapsed/refractory AML, compared to 40% in the control group treated with

azacitidine alone.

Hematologic Parameters and Immunologic Effects

Hematologic parameters, including platelet count (PLT), white blood cells (WBC), and

hemoglobin (Hb), were evaluated in the studies by Che et al. (2024) (
4) and Wang et al. (2022)
(
15). Che et al. (2024) (4) found that the group treated with Venetoclax and azacitidine showed
higher platelet levels (89.95 ± 15.34 ×10⁹/L) and hemoglobin (88.35 ± 5.96 g/L) compared to the

decitabine group (81.29 ± 12.58 ×10⁹/L and 74.84 ± 7.64 g/L, respectively). Wang et al. (2
022)
(
15) reported significant improvements in platelet, white blood cell, and hemoglobin levels in the
group treated with Venetoclax and azacitidine compared to the control group. Additionally, a

significant reduction in CD4+ and CD3+ levels was observed after treatment in both groups, with

no significan
t differences between them.
Adverse Effects

Adverse effects were reported in all included studies. Fukumoto et al. (2023) (8) reported

a grade ≥ 3 neutropenia incidence of 92.6% in patients treated with Venetoclax in combination

with azacitidine or low
-dose cytarabine, indicating a high incidence of myelosuppression. In the
study by Che et al. (2024) (
4), the group treated with Venetoclax and decitabine showed a higher
incidence of thrombocytopenia (16%), red blood cell depletion (11%), and pulmonary infections

(6%) compared to the azacitidine group. Wang et al. (2022) (
15) found similar incidences of
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3849
adverse effects between the groups treated with Venetoclax and azacitidine and the control group,

with no significant differences.

Table 1

Results of the Included Primary Studies

Author,

Year

Objective
Count
ry

Populati

on

Design
N Intervent
ion

Compara

tor

Outco

mes

Key Results

DiNard

o, 2020

(5)

Assess

safety/effic

acy of

VEN +

DEC in

ND and

R/R AML

USA
≥60 yrs,
ND or

R/R

AML

Phase II
16
8

VEN +

DEC

ORR,
OS,

DOR,

safety

ORR 62%
(R/R AML);
median OS 7.8
mo

Che,

2024 (
4)
Compare

VEN +

AZA vs

VEN +

DEC in

R/R AML

China
R/R
AML

RCT
20
0

VEN +

AZA

VEN +

DEC

Respons
e, CR,
PR,
labs,
AEs

ORR: 50% vs
28%; CR 8%
vs 4%; PR
18% vs 10%.

PLT 89.9 vs

81.3×10⁹/L;

Hb 88.3 vs

74.8 g/L

(p<0.01).

Higher AEs

with DEC

(thrombocytop

enia 16%,

infection 6%)

Wang,

2022

(
15)
Evaluate

AZA +

VEN in

elderly R/R

AML

China
≥60 yrs,
R/R

AML

RCT
20 AZA +
VEN

AZA
ORR,
PLT,

WBC,

Hb, CD

markers

, AEs

ORR 90% vs

40% (p<0.05).

↑ PLT &

WBC both

groups. ↓

CD4+, CD3+.

Similar AEs

Fukumo

to, 2023

(8)

Real
-world
VEN

combinatio

ns in AML

Japan
ND &
R/R

AML

Retrospect

ive

41
VEN +
AZA or

LDAC

OS,
CR/CRi

, safety

Median OS
287 d; CR/CRi
73.1%; grade
≥3 neutropenia
92.6%

Secondary Studies (see Table 2)

Eight secondary studies were analyzed that investigated the efficacy and safety of

Venetoclax
in the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The studies
included combinations of Venetoclax with hypomethylating agents (HMA) and low
-intensity
chemotherapy, with the goal of evaluating key clinical outcomes such as complete r
emission (CR)
rate, overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and the incidence of adverse events.

Complete Remission (CR) Rate and Overall Response Rate (ORR)

The complete remission (CR) rate showed considerable variability across studies,

depending on the therapeutic combinations used and the characteristics of the patient population.
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3850
In the VIALE
-A trial, reported by Hu et al. (2023) (9), the combination of Venetoclax with
azacitidine resulted in a CR rate of 66.4%, compared to 28.3% in the placebo group. Aldoss

(2021) (
3) reported a CR rate of 46% in relapsed/refractory AML patients treated with Venetoclax
and hypomethylating agents. Similarly, Bewersdorf (2020) (
2) reported a CR rate of 26.7% in
patients treated with Venetoclax in combination with HMA or low
-dose cytarabine (LDAC). The
overall response rate (ORR) also varied significa
ntly, ranging from 31.1% to 56.6%, being higher
when Venetoclax was administered in combination with hypomethylating agents (Shimony,

2022; Bewersdorf, 2020) (1
2,15).
Overall Survival (OS)

The median overall survival (OS) also showed considerable variability across studies. In

the study by Hu et al. (2023) (
9), the combination of Venetoclax with azacitidine was associated
with a median OS of 14.7 months, compared to 9.6 months in the placebo group. Aldoss (2021)

(
3) reported a mean OS of 7.8 months in relapsed/refractory AML patients treated with
Venetoclax and hypomethylating agents. Bewersdorf (2020) (
2) reported a median OS ranging
from 3 to 6.6 months for those treated with Venetoclax in combination with HMA or LDAC.

Overall, the data suggest improved survival for patients treated with Venetoclax combinations

compared to conventional ther
apies.
Adverse Events

In terms of safety, the most common adverse events reported included febrile

neutropenia, grade 3/4 hematological toxicity, and early mortality. Lasica (2021) (
10) indicated
that 42% of patients experienced febrile neutropenia when treated with Venetoclax in

combination with hypomethylating agents. Shimony (2022) (1
2) reported a 38.6% incidence of
febrile neutropenia in relapsed/refractory AML patients. Additionally, 30
-day mortality was 6.1%
in patients treated with Venetoclax combinations, highlighting th
e importance of close monitoring
during the early stages of treatment.

Table 2

Results of the Included Systematic Reviews

Author,

Year

Objective
Country Population Intervention Comparator Outcomes Key Results
Lasica, 2021

(
10)
Review VEN in

hematologic

malignancies

Australia
CLL, AML,
MM

VEN ± HMA
Standard
therapy

ORR, CR,

OS,

toxicity

AML: OS 14.7
vs 9.6 mo
(HMA alone);
CR 66.4%; FN
42%

Guerra,

2019 (
8)
Review VEN

combos in AML

USA
ND & R/R
AML

VEN +

HMA/chemo

CR/CRi,
OS

R/R AML:
CR/CRi 48
53%; OS 36
mo

Hu, 2023 (
9) Review VEN-
based AML

therapy

China
Adult AML VEN +
HMA/chemo

Placebo/HMA
CR/CRi,
OS

CR/CRi 66.4%
vs 28.3%; OS
14.7 vs 9.6 mo
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3851
Author,

Year

Objective
Country Population Intervention Comparator Outcomes Key Results
Aldoss,

2021 (1)

Review VEN in

AML

USA
Unfit & R/R
AML

VEN +

HMA/LDAC

HMA/LDAC
CR, OS,
MRD

CR/CRi 46%;

OS 7.8 mo

(16.6 mo if

CR); MRD

64%

Du, 2023 (
6) VEN + HMA
post
-transplant
USA
R/R
AML/MDS

post
-allo
VEN + HMA
Prior tx CR/CRi,
ORR,

survival

CR/CRi 32%;
ORR 48%; 6-
mo OS 42%;
12-mo 23%

Shimony,

2022 (1
2)
VEN

combinations in

AML

USA
ND & R/R
AML

VEN combos
Subgroups ORR, CR,
MRD, FN

R/R AML:

ORR 56.6%;

CR 24.4%;

MRD
57.8%;
FN 38.6%; 30
-
d mortality

6.1%

Wei, 2024

(1
6)
VEN +

demethylating

agents in elderly

AML

China
>60 yrs
AML

VEN + HMA
CR, ORR,
OS

CR 70%; ORR

53%; OS 7.7

16.9 mo

Bewersdorf,

2020 (
2)
VEN in R/R

AML

USA
R/R AML VEN ±
HMA/LDAC

ORR,
CR/CRi,

OS

ORR 31.1%
(38.7%
combo);
CR/CRi 26.7%;
OS 1.87.8 mo
(mono), 36.6
mo (combo)

Risk of Bias Assessment of Included Studies

Cohort Studies
: The study by Fukumoto et al. (2023) (8) on the safety and efficacy of
Venetoclax for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in real
-world clinical practice presents a "fair
quality" risk of bias rating, with a total score of 6. The representativeness of the exposed
cohort
is considered adequate, but the lack of an unexposed cohort and the absence of comparability

between cohorts limit the comparative analysis. The verification of drug use and outcome

assessment were well
-documented, with secure records and independent blind evaluation,
respectively. Additionally, the study is notable for complete follow
-up and sufficient duration for
observing outcomes. However, the absence of a comparison group reduces the ability to assess

the differential impact of the treatment.

Clinical Trials:
The studies by Che et al. (2024) (4) and Wang et al. (2022) (15) evaluated
the use of Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine or decitabine in relapsed/refractory acute

myeloid leukemia. Both studies show a low risk of bias in the domains related to the

randomization process, missing outcome data, and outcome measu
rement, indicating good
methodological quality in these areas. However, "some concerns" were identified in the domains

related to deviations from the intended interventions and
selection of the reported outcome, which
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3852
could limit the interpretation of the treatment effects. The presence of these concerns highlights

the importance of transparency in outcome reporting and the need to minimize potential biases in

outcome selection.

Table 3

Risk of Bias Assessment of Clinical Trials

Domain
Che, 2024
(4
)
Wang, 2022
(15
)
Domain 1: Risk of bias arising from the randomization

process

Low
Low
Domain 2: Risk of bias due to deviations from intended

interventions (effect of assignment to intervention)

Some
concerns

Some
concerns

Domain 3: Risk of bias due to missing outcome data
Low Low
Domain 4: Risk of bias in measurement of the outcome
Low Low
Domain 5: Risk of bias in selection of the reported result
Some
concerns

Some
concerns

Systematic Reviews

Table 4 shows the risk of bias in the systematic reviews conducted by different authors.

The studies by Lasica (2021) (
10), Guerra (2019) (8), Hu (2023) (9), and Aldoss (2021) (1)
presented a high risk of bias across all evaluated domains, including study eligibility criteria,

study identification and selection, data collection and evaluation, and synthesis and findings. This

suggests significant methodological issues th
at could affect the validity of their conclusions. In
contrast, the studies by Du (2023) (
6), Shimony (2022) (12), Wei (2024) (16), and Bewersdorf
(2020) (
2) presented a low risk of bias across all evaluated domains, indicating better
methodological qualit
y and greater confidence in their results.
Table 4

Risk of Bias Assessment of Included Systematic Reviews

Domain
Lasica,
2021
(10
)
Guerra,
2019 (8
)
Hu,
2023 (9
)
Aldoss,
2021

[12]

Du,
2023

[4]

Shimony,
2022
[13]
Wei,
2024

[14]

Bewers
dorf,
2020

[15]

Domain 1: Study eligibility criteria
High Low High Low Low Low Low Low
Domain 2: Identification and selection of

studies

High
High High High Low Low Low Low
Domain 3: Data collection and study appraisal
High High High High Low Low Low Low
Domain 4: Synthesis and findings
High High High High Low Low Low Low
Overall Risk of Bias
High High High High Low Low Low Low
Table
5
Abbreviations

Abbreviation
Definition
AML
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
BCL
-2 B-cell Lymphoma 2
CR
Complete Remission
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3853
Abbreviation
Definition
CRi
Complete Remission with Incomplete Recovery
DFS
Disease-Free Survival
FN
Febrile Neutropenia
Hb
Hemoglobin
HMA
Hypomethylating Agent
IRB
Institutional Review Board
LDAC
Low-Dose Cytarabine
MDS
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
MRD
Minimal Residual Disease
ORR
Overall Response Rate
OS
Overall Survival
PFS
Progression-Free Survival
PLT
Platelet Count
PR
Partial Remission
R/R
Relapsed or Refractory
WBC
White Blood Cell Count
The following abbreviations are used in this manuscript:

DISCUSSION

This study evaluated the efficacy of Venetoclax
combined with hypomethylating agents
and chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The

findings showed improved overall survival (OS) and high complete remission (CR) rates,

particularly with Venetoclax plus azacit
idine, especially in elderly patients and those with
comorbidities who are not candidates for intensive chemotherapy. A recent meta
-analysis
reported a CR/CRi rate of 32%, an overall response rate (ORR) of 48%, and a 6
-month survival
of 42%, supporting the
benefit of Venetoclax-based combinations in high-risk patients.
A lower incidence of severe adverse events was observed with Venetoclax plus azacitidine

compared with Venetoclax plus decitabine. Although both regimens are viable, azacitidine
-based
combinations demonstrated superior safety and tolerability, supporting t
heir use in patients unfit
for intensive chemotherapy (
6).
These results are consistent with previous studies, including the VIALE
-A trial, which
reported higher CR rates (66.4% vs 28.3%) and longer median OS (14.7 months) with Venetoclax

plus azacitidine compared with azacitidine alone, findings comparable to tho
se reported by
Vol. 13/ Núm. 1 2026 pág. 3854
Fukumoto et al. (2023) (8). High response rates have also been observed in elderly populations

treated with this combination (1
4).
In contrast, Venetoclax combined with decitabine showed lower remission rates and a

higher frequency of adverse events, including thrombocytopenia and pulmonary infections,

limiting its applicability in certain subgroups (6,7,1
3). These differences highlight the importance
of selecting the appropriate hypomethylating agent based on patient characteristics and treatment

tolerability.

This study has limitations related to the heterogeneity of included study designs,

populations, and inclusion criteria, which may affect comparability and limit definitive

conclusions. However, this heterogeneity reflects real
-world clinical practice and enhances the
external applicability of the findings.

Strengths of this review include the inclusion of diverse patient populations and real
-world
data, as well as the integration of randomized and observational studies, providing a

comprehensive assessment of Venetoclax
-based combinations in relapsed or refractory AML.
Clinically, Venetoclax
combined with hypomethylating agents, particularly azacitidine,
represents a valuable therapeutic option for patients unfit for intensive therapy. Further research

should focus on identifying predictive biomarkers, including genetic subgroups such as FLT3
-
ITD, and on evaluating long
-term survival and quality-of-life outcomes (4).
CONCLUSIO
N
This study provides robust evidence on the efficacy and safety of Venetoclax
in
combination with hypomethylating agents in the treatment of relapsed or refractory AML.

Combinations with azacitidine proved to be superior in terms of remission rates and adverse

effects compared to decitabine, suggesting that this combination should
be considered as a first-
line option in these patients. Future research should focus on optimizing patient selection and

addressing remaining questions about the long
-term impact of these therapies, as well as exploring
new combinations that could improve
outcomes in AML patients and other hematologic
malignancies.
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