In a nutshell
This study aimed to investigate the safety of venetoclax (Venclexta) in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This study concluded that venetoclax is safe in these patients as a long-term continuous therapy.
Some background
Venetoclax is a treatment used for patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is commonly used in patients with the 17p deletion or progressive disease. It was not known if venetoclax would be safe in these patients as a long-term continuous therapy.
Methods & findings
This study involved 350 patients with RR CLL. The average age of patients involved was 66 years old. 60% of patients who took part had the 17p deletion. The patients who took part had been treated with an average of three therapies before this study. 42% had received ibrutinib (Imbruvica) or idelalisib (Zydelig). The average treatment time was 16 months. Patients were treated with 400 mg daily of venetoclax.
The most common side effects included diarrhea in 41% of patients, neutropenia (low level of white blood cells) in 40%, nausea in 39%, fatigue (tiredness) in 28% and upper respiratory tract infection (common cold) in 25%.
The most common serious/severe side effects were neutropenia in 37% of patients, anemia (low levels of red blood cells) in 17% and thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count and clotting is stopped) in 14%.
Growth-factor support (promotes growth of cells) and changing doses allowed management of serious neutropenia. 15% of patients who had neutropenia experienced a serious infection.
10% of all patients stopped venetoclax treatment due to side effects.
8% of patients died during this study. Most of these deaths were due to disease progression.
The bottom line
This study concluded that venetoclax is safe in patients with RR CLL as a long-term continuous therapy.
The fine print
The limitation to this study is that no placebo groups were involved and the study was not randomized.
What’s next?
Consult your physician about venetoclax treatment for RR CLL.
Published By :
Clinical Cancer Research
Date :
Jun 12, 2018
