A clinical trial comparing a newer drug combination with azacitidine alone for acute myeloid leukaemia has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, alongside an editorial examining the findings.
The New England Journal of Medicine (@NEJM) posted details of a trial on its official account, linking to both the full research article and an accompanying editorial. The trial examined whether a combination of azacitidine and venetoclax — a lower-intensity drug pairing used in blood cancer treatment — performs differently from azacitidine alone in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, a fast-progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
AML is one of the more serious blood cancers, and choosing between intensive chemotherapy and gentler drug combinations is a decision that affects patients’ quality of life as much as their survival odds. The editorial, published alongside the trial, offers expert commentary weighing the evidence on hypomethylating agents (drugs that work by altering how cancer genes are switched on or off) combined with venetoclax against the azacitidine alone approach.
Kent residents with concerns about blood cancer symptoms — including unexplained tiredness, frequent infections, unusual bruising or bleeding, or night sweats — should contact their GP in the first instance. NHS 111 is available around the clock for urgent but non-emergency health queries.
Key information
- Speak to your GP if you have persistent or unexplained symptoms that concern you
- Call NHS 111 (free, 24 hours a day) for urgent medical advice that cannot wait for a GP appointment
- Call 999 in a medical emergency
- Blood Cancer UK operates a support line for patients and families affected by blood cancers
Source: @NEJM