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We evaluated response to VEN/HMA in 46 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by extramedullary disease (EMD). Median age was 65 (range, 19-81) years. Patients had a median of two EMD sites (range, 1-5) and 35 (76%) patients had concurrent bone marrow involvement. Twenty (43%) patients had highrisk genetic features according to the European Leukemia Net 2022 classification. Twenty-nine (63%) were relapsed or refractory after intensive chemotherapy (CTX) including 13 (28%) with prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Patients received a median of 2 cycles of VEN/HMA (range, 1-31). Twenty (43%) patients achieved complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematological recovery (CRi) after VEN/HMA and five (11%) achieved a partial remission (PR). Six patients were subsequently consolidated with allo-HCT (CR/CRi, n=4; PR, n=2). Median follow-up was 49.1 months (95%-CI, 26.1 months - not reached) and median overall survival (OS) 6.4 months (95%-CI, 5.1-11 months). One-year and 2-years OS rates were 29.3% (95%-CI, 18.6-46.2%) and 12.3% (95%-CI, 5.5-27.6%), respectively. Age with a cut-off of 60 years had no impact on OS (P=0.90). Relapse occurred in 12 of 20 (60%) patients who achieved CR/CRi after VEN/HMA treatment. Of those, all except one succumbed to their disease. Six (30%) patients were in CR/CRi at last follow-up and 2 (10%) died in CR. In our cohort of patients with AML with EMD with high-risk features, treatment with VEN/HMA resulted in an encouraging ORR of 54% with a CR/CRi rate of 43.5%. However, VEN/HMA alone may not be effective in maintaining disease control.

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) presents as a complex and multifaceted ensemble of disorders, positioning itself as both a challenge and an intriguing frontier within hematologic oncology. Its origins are diverse, stemming from antecedent hematologic conditions, germline predisposing mutations, or the sequelae of cytotoxic therapies, and its development is driven by intricate genetic and epigenetic modifications. This complexity necessitates a diverse array of therapeutic strategies, each meticulously tailored to address the distinctive challenges sAML introduces. Such strategies require a personalized approach, considering the variegated clinical backgrounds of patients and the inherent intricacies of the disease. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation stands as a cornerstone, offering the potential for curative outcomes. This is complemented by the emergence of innovative treatments such as CPX-351, venetoclax, and glasdegib, which have demonstrated promising results in enhancing prognosis. The evolving landscape of sAML treatment underscores the importance of continued research and innovation in the field, aiming not only to improve patient outcomes but also to deepen our understanding of the disease’s biological underpinnings, thereby illuminating pathways toward more effective and individualized therapies.