In a nutshell
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) to idelalisib (Zydelig)–rituximab (Rituxan) combination for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in a real-life setting.
This study concluded that ibrutinib appears to improve survival compared to idelalisib–rituximab in these patients.
Some background
Ibrutinib (IB) is a targeted therapy used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Another standard treatment for CLL is the combination of idelalisib–rituximab (IDELA-R). Idelalisib interferes with the growth of cancer cells. Rituximab is an immune molecule that helps the immune system to destroy cancer cells.
A comparison of IB and IDELA-R treatments in patients with CLL that has come back or did not respond to previous chemotherapy in the real-word has not been done.
Methods & findings
This study involved 675 patients with relapsed/resistant CLL who had previously been treated with chemotherapy only. Patients received either IB (563) or IDELA-R (112). Patients were followed for an average of 1.8 years.
21.1% of the IB group stopped treatment due to side effects compared to 44.6% in the IDELA-R group. In the IB group reasons for stopping treatment included abnormal heart rhythm and infections. In the IDEL-R group reasons for stopping treatment included diarrhea and infections.
Treatment lasted for an average of 18 months in the IB group compared to an average of 12 months in the IDELA-R group. The IB group had a significantly higher survival (by 50%) when compared to the IDELA-R group.
The bottom line
This study concluded that IB improves survival compared to IDELA-R in patients with relapsed/unresponsive CLL.
The fine print
This study was based on medical records. Some information might have been incomplete. Also, the groups were not equal. This might have influenced the results.
Published By :
European Journal of Haematology
Date :
Dec 30, 2020
