A Phase 1b/2 Study of Alvocidib Plus Decitabine or Azacitidine in Patients With MDS

Alvocidib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK 9) inhibitor, in time-sequential therapy demonstrated significant clinical activity in secondary AML patients with prior MDS. Patients with IPSS-R intermediate and above MDS have an increased risk of developing AML and may be treated with the same chemotherapy regimens used in patients with AML. Eight Phase I or II clinical trials have been completed in patients with AML, totaling more than 400 patients with both relapsed/refractory or newly diagnosed AML. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that decitabine exposure increased the expression of NOXA, which is a specific antagonist of the survival factor MCL 1. Pharmacologic downregulation of MCL-1 via CDK 9 inhibition, as well as upregulation of the MCL-1 antagonist, NOXA, following decitabine exposure may result in enhanced antileukemic activity in MCL-1-dependent malignancies.