OnCo
termsTerm

Hypomethylating agents (azacitidine, decitabine)

aka HMA, HMAs, hypomethylating, hypomethylating agent, hypomethylating agents, oral azacitidine, oral decitabine-cedazuridine, venetoclax-azacitidine, venetoclax + azacitidine, ven-aza, Ven/Aza, HMA-venetoclax, venetoclax + HMA, HMA failure

Low-intensity chemotherapy that strips chemical 'off' switches (methyl groups) from DNA so silenced genes can be read again. The mainstay for older patients with AML and high-risk MDS, especially combined with venetoclax.

Azacitidine and decitabine (approved 2004-06) extend survival in higher-risk MDS and were the only option for AML patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy until venetoclax-azacitidine (VIALE-A, 2020) roughly doubled responses and became the standard, now available fully orally. They are given in outpatient cycles for as long as they work; 'HMA failure' defines a population with very poor outcomes where menin inhibitors, IDH inhibitors and trials of new agents are focused. Response can take several cycles, so early stopping is a common error.

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Treatment jargon

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