Venetoclax/Venetoclax Tablets Benefits and Side Effects

Venetoclax/Venetoclax is a new targeted drug mainly used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in adults. Additionally, venetoclax is an effective treatment option for patients 75 and older with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), or those who are unable to receive intensive chemotherapy due to other medical conditions. In the treatment of AML, venetoclax is often combined with azacitidine, decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine to enhance efficacy.

The mechanism of action of venetoclax (MOA) is unique compared with traditional chemotherapy. The drug targets the BCL-2 protein, an anti-apoptotic protein that is abnormally highly expressed in a variety of cancers. Overactivity of BCL-2 prevents cells from undergoing the natural process of apoptosis, causing cancer cells to proliferate. Especially in malignant tumors such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, and acute myeloid leukemia, abnormal expression of BCL-2 makes these cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy. Venetoclax promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells by directly binding to BCL-2.

Although venetoclax has shown good efficacy in treatment, its side effects cannot be ignored. Common side effects include neutropenia (lower white blood cell count), nausea, anemia, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, and thrombocytopenia (lower platelet count). These side effects may affect the patient's quality of daily life and require close monitoring during treatment.

Among them, tumor lysis syndrome is a serious side effect of venetoclax. This syndrome usually occurs in the early stages after the initiation of treatment, especially in patients with high tumor burden, and manifests as symptoms such as hyperuricemia, acute kidney injury, and electrolyte imbalance. In this regard, doctors will assess the patient's tumor burden when prescribing venetoclax and take appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of tumor lysis syndrome.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/venetoclax.html