BCL-2 Expression in AML Patients over 65 Years: Impact on Outcomes across Different Therapeutic Strategies

BCL-2 overexpression has been associated with resistance to chemotherapy and reduced survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but few data are available in elderly patients, a subset accounting for majority of AML cases and with dismal prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed 113 AML patients aged ≥6...

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Autores principales: Mario Tiribelli, Angela Michelutti, Margherita Cavallin, Sara Di Giusto, Erica Simeone, Renato Fanin, Daniela Damiani
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: MDPI AG 2021
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R
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/802def0c29cb45748f2e5f9266f5854a
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Sumario:BCL-2 overexpression has been associated with resistance to chemotherapy and reduced survival in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but few data are available in elderly patients, a subset accounting for majority of AML cases and with dismal prognosis. We retrospectively analyzed 113 AML patients aged ≥65 years treated with 3 + 7 chemotherapy (<i>n</i> = 51) or hypomethylating agents (HMAs) (<i>n</i> = 62), evaluating the role of BCL-2 expression on complete remission (CR) and overall survival (OS). BCL-2 was expressed in 81 patients (72%), more frequently in those with unfavorable cytogenetic-molecular risk. CR was achieved in 34.5% cases, without differences according to BCL-2 expression or induction therapy. In the whole population 1-year OS was 39%, similar in BCL-2+ and BCL-2- cases. In BCL-2 positive patients OS was superior with HMAs (56% vs. 25% with 3 + 7; <i>p</i> = 0.02), while no advantage for HMA was found in BCL-2 negative cases (36% vs. 27% for 3 + 7). Therapy with HMAs was the only factor associated with longer OS in BCL-2+ AML by multivariable analysis. Use of HMAs, possibly in combination with BCL-2 inhibitors, appears to be particularly appealing in BCL2+ AML, where it is associated with superior survival.