What would you like to know about venetoclax?
Venetoclax (Venclexta) is a targeted therapy used to treat certain types of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
How it works
Venetoclax targets a protein called BCL-2 that helps leukemia Show Full Answer
What would you like to know about venetoclax?
Venetoclax (Venclexta) is a targeted therapy used to treat certain types of leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
How it works:
Venetoclax targets a protein called BCL-2 that helps leukemia cells survive. By blocking this protein, venetoclax causes cancer cells to die as they should when damaged.
How it's taken:
It's taken as a once-a-day pill, making it more convenient than some other treatments.
Common side effects include:
- Anemia
- Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Important safety consideration:
Tumor lysis syndrome is a potentially serious side effect where venetoclax kills so many cancer cells that their contents can clog the kidneys. Because of this risk, you may need to stay in the hospital when starting the medication or increasing the dose.
Treatment combinations:
Venetoclax is often used with other medications like rituximab for CLL/SLL, or with azacitidine or decitabine for AML. It's particularly helpful for people with certain genetic mutations that don't respond well to traditional chemotherapy.
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January 30
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