Volume 136, Issue 6 e70041
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Capillary Sampling Enables Venetoclax Concentration Measurement in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Within Academic Multicentre Trial

Sari Kytölä

Sari Kytölä

Department of Hematology, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Mika Kurkela

Mika Kurkela

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Johanna I. Kiiski

Johanna I. Kiiski

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

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Ida Vänttinen

Ida Vänttinen

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Tanja Ruokoranta

Tanja Ruokoranta

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Anu Partanen

Anu Partanen

Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

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Annasofia Holopainen

Annasofia Holopainen

Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

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Marja Pyörälä

Marja Pyörälä

Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

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Milla E. L. Kuusisto

Milla E. L. Kuusisto

Cancer Center, Oulu University Hospital, Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Oulu, Finland

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Timo Siitonen

Timo Siitonen

Cancer Center, Oulu University Hospital, Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Oulu, Finland

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Sirpa Koskela

Sirpa Koskela

Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

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Johanna Rimpiläinen

Johanna Rimpiläinen

Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

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Pia Ettala

Pia Ettala

Department of Clinical Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

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Heikki Kuusanmäki

Heikki Kuusanmäki

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Helsinki, Finland

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Mikko Niemi

Mikko Niemi

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Janne T. Backman

Janne T. Backman

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

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Mika Kontro

Corresponding Author

Mika Kontro

Department of Hematology, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence:

Mika Kontro ([email protected])

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First published: 27 April 2025

Funding: This work was supported by Helsinki University: iCAN - Digital Precision Medicine and HiLIFE, FiCAN South, Finnish Medical Foundation, Cancer Foundation Finland, and Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center.

ABSTRACT

Venetoclax has improved outcomes for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy. Managing cytopenias and infections remains challenging. Previous pharmacokinetic studies have shown considerable variability in venetoclax concentrations between individuals; however, data regarding whether higher levels increase toxicity or impact efficacy are limited. This study assessed the feasibility of using fingertip capillary blood plasma, collected via microsampling, to measure venetoclax trough concentrations and explored their association with toxicity and treatment outcomes. Concentrations were measured during the first two therapy cycles in 89 patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed or refractory AML receiving azacitidine and venetoclax. Validation with 37 parallel venipuncture and capillary samples showed excellent correlation (R2 of 0.835, p < 0.0001). No significant associations were found between venetoclax concentrations and patient characteristics such as gender, age and weight. While no statistically significant effects on therapy outcomes or adverse events were identified, trends suggested lower concentrations in refractory patients and higher in those with morphologic leukaemia free state or extended cycle length. Additionally, three separate CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were analysed in 81 patients for their potential impact on venetoclax concentrations. This study demonstrates that the capillary blood plasma method is viable for measuring venetoclax levels.

Conflicts of Interest

AP reports personal fees (AbbVie, Astra Zeneca, Behring, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Sanofi, Takeda); PE reports personal fees (Novartis, Pfizer, Amgen, Sanofi, AbbVie, BeiGene); MP reports personal fees (Pfizer, Novartis, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Servier); JR reports personal fees (Astellas Pharma, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Sanofi) TS reports personal fees (Amgen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Otsuka Pharma, Janssen-Cilag, GSK); HK reports research funding from (AbbVie, outside the submitted work) and personal fees (Faron Pharmaceuticals); MK reports personal fees (Astellas Pharma, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Novartis and Pfizer) and research funding (AbbVie, outside the submitted work). All other authors report no competing interests.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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