Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39851474›Full record

ArticleDiseases (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Valproic Acid Enhances Venetoclax Efficacy in Targeting Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Renshi Kawakatsu, Kenjiro Tadagaki, Kenta Yamasaki, Yasumichi Kuwahara, Tatsushi Yoshida

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Renshi KawakatsuDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Kenjiro TadagakiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Kenta YamasakiDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Yasumichi KuwaharaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.
Tatsushi YoshidaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-0634-5160

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a common and aggressive form of leukemia, yet current treatment strategies remain insufficient. Venetoclax, a BH3-mimetic approved for AML treatment, induces Bcl-2-dependent apoptosis, though its therapeutic efficacy is still limited. Therefore, new strategies to enhance the effect of venetoclax are highly sought. Valproic acid (VPA), commonly used for epilepsy, has also been studied for potential applications in AML treatment.

methodsAML cells were treated with venetoclax, with or without VPA. Cell viability was assessed using the trypan blue dye exclusion assay, while cell cycle progression was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak was measured by RT-qPCR.

resultsVenetoclax and VPA individually had only mild effects on AML cell proliferation. However, their combination significantly inhibited cell growth and triggered pronounced cell death. This combination also led to the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a substrate of caspases, indicating activation of apoptosis. VPA treatment upregulated the expression of Bax and Bak, further supporting apoptosis induction. The cell death induced by the venetoclax-VPA combination was predominantly apoptotic, as confirmed by the near-complete blockade of cell death by a pan-caspase inhibitor.

conclusionsOur study demonstrates that VPA enhances venetoclax-induced apoptosis in AML cell lines, providing a novel role for VPA and suggesting a promising combinatory strategy for AML treatment. These findings offer valuable insights into potential clinical applications of venetoclax and VPA in AML management.

Indexed as

acute myeloid leukemiaapoptosisBakBaxBcl-2valproic acid

Identifiers

PMID39851474
PMCPMC11764158

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.