In a nutshell
This study wanted to research if the combination therapy of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and venetoclax (Venclexta) was effective in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Researchers found that this combination therapy was an effective treatment for high-risk and older patients with CLL.
Some background
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow. It may lead to an abnormal immune system. Ibrutinib and venetoclax are drugs approved for the treatment of CLL. Each drug is known to work well on its own. It is not known if both of these drugs given together is even more effective in the treatment of CLL.
Methods & findings
80 patients with CLL were included in this study. All patients received ibrutinib alone. After 3 cycles of treatment, venetoclax was added to the treatment. Combination treatment was given for 24 cycles. Response to treatment was measured.
After 12 cycles of combined treatment, 88% of patients had a complete response. 61% of patients had no signs of disease in the blood after treatment. After 18 cycles, 96% of patients were in remission. Patients of 65 years and older had a higher rate of response to combination treatment. The estimated survival without signs of cancer at 1 year was 98%.
3 patients had tumor lysis syndrome (a side effect of cancer treatment where dead cancer cells escape into the blood). Side effects were similar between ibrutinib and venetoclax.
The bottom line
The study concluded that combining ibrutinib and venetoclax was safe and effective in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, particularly in high-risk and older patients.
The fine print
There was no comparison group in this study. Further, randomized studies are needed,
Published By :
The New England Journal of Medicine
Date :
May 30, 2019
