Mcl-1 dependence predicts response to vorinostat and gemtuzumab ozogamicin in acute myeloid leukemia ★

Older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are commonly considered for investigational therapies, which often only benefit subsets of patients. In this study, we assessed whether BH3 profiling of apoptotic functionality could predict outcomes following treatment with vorinostat (histone deacetylase inhibitor) and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO; CD33-targeted immunoconjugate). Flow cytometry of BH3 peptide priming with Noxa (anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 modulator) correlated with remission induction (p = .026; AUC = 0.83 [CI: 0.65–1.00; p = .00042]: AUC = 0.88 [CI:0.75–1.00] with age adjustment) and overall survival (p = .027 logistic regression; AUC = 0.87 [0.64–1.00; p = .0017]). This Mcl-1-dependence suggests a pivotal role of Bcl-2 family protein-mediated apoptosis to vorinostat/GO in AML patients.