How does Venclexta work?
Venclexta (venetoclax) is a small molecule inhibitor of BCL-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2) that is used to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
What is BCL-2?
BCL-2 is a protein that helps determine whether cells live or die. It’s called an anti-apoptotic protein because it blocks apoptosis. Apoptosis is a process that causes cell death. Apoptosis is a process used by the body to get rid of unnecessary or abnormal cells.
Vencelxta works by inhibiting BCL-2
Vencelxta’s mechanism of action is to bind directly to the BCL-2 protein. When Vencelxta binds to BCL-2 it displaces other proteins, such as BIM, which help to activate the process of apoptosis leading to programmed cell death.
Cancer cells such as CLL, SLL and AML overexpress BCL-2, which is to say they have more of it than normal cells do. This overexpression of BCL-2 makes these types of blood cancer resistance to chemotherapy. By blocking or inhibiting BCL-2, Vencelxta enables these cells to be killed.
Although Vencelxta helps to treat cancer, it is not a chemotherapy drug. Vencelxta is a tablet that is taken for a period of 12 or about 24 months depending on the other cancer treatments it is used with.
References
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Venclexta. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/208573s023lbl.pdf. [Accessed February 16, 2021].
- National Cancer Institute (NCI). NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. BCL2. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/bcl2. [Accessed February 16, 2021].
- Bose P, Gandhi V, Konopleva M. Pathways and mechanisms of venetoclax resistance. Leuk Lymphoma. 2017;58(9):1-17. doi:10.1080/10428194.2017.1283032.
- Venclexta. Learn How Venclexta Works. Available from: https://www.venclexta.com/previously-untreated-cll/why-venclexta/how-it-works. [Accessed February 16, 2021].
Read next
Is Venclexta (venetoclax) chemotherapy?
Venclexta (venetoclax) is a targeted treatment rather than a type of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is defined as a drug treatment that kills fast-growing cells in your body. Venclexta works by binding to a specific protein called BCL-2 which is overexpressed on cancerous cells in people with cancers such as AML and CLL. By binding to this protein Venclexta kills cancerous CLL and AML lymphocytes, in preference to other fast-growing cells. Continue reading
How effective is Venclexta?
Venclexta (venetoclax) is effective for both CLL and AML with trials reporting significantly more people experiencing complete remission with Venclexta in combination with other treatments compared to standard therapy. Venclexta works quickly as well, with it taking an average of one month for many people to experience a reduction in disease progression. Continue reading
How long do you take Venclexta for?
Venclexta is usually taken for 12 months by previously untreated patients with CLL or SLL and for 24 months for previously treated patients with CLL or SLL. For patients with AML, Venclexta is taken for as long as it is deemed safe to do so (until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity is observed). Continue reading
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