A Novel Isoflavone, ME-344, Enhances Venetoclax Antileukemic Activity Against AML Via Suppression of Oxidative Phosphorylation and Purine Biosynthesis

The 5-year survival rate for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with cytarabine-based chemotherapy remains less than 30%, due to drug resistance and disease relapse. Recently, a selective inhibitor of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, venetoclax, was approved by the FDA in combination with low dose cytarabine or hypomethylating agents for treating newly diagnosed AML patients who are 75 years of age or older or for those who are unfit for standard chemotherapy, providing more treatment options for this group of patients. Although the response rate to these newly approved combination therapies is reported to be 70%, the median overall survival is only 10-18 months showing that the duration of response is limited. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents are in demand to enhance venetoclax activity against AML and to combat AML resistant to cytarabine-based chemotherapy.