Ibrutinib as Initial Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Older patients with previously untreated disease had better outcomes with ibrutinib than with chemo-immunotherapy.

Initial treatment of advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and chemotherapy has been a standard of care for many years, although recently the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib (IB) has been approved as a first-line treatment for both poor- and standard-risk patients.

To compare these approaches, investigators conducted an industry-supported, multicenter, randomized, phase III trial of IB, IB plus rituximab (IB-R), or the chemotherapy agent bendamustine plus rituximab (B-R) in 547 CLL patients 65 years of age and older. Patients on anticoagulation therapy with warfarin or heparin were excluded.

At a median follow-up of 32 months, 2-year progression-free survival was significantly prolonged w…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD, ScM

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD, ScM

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Ibrutinib as Initial Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

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Reviewing Author