Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Jeffrey Jones, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and section head of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) research program at Ohio State University, discusses the results of a phase III randomized, controlled study evaluating idelalisib (Zydelig) in combination with ofatumumab (Arzerra) compared to ofatumumab alone for previously treated CLL.

Asher A. Chanan-Khan, MD, chair, Hematology/Oncology, Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, discusses a recent study that examined ibrutinib combined with bendamustine and ritxuimab (BR) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

Adding ibrutinib to standard bendamustine and rituximab (BR) reduced the risk of disease progression by 80% compared with BR plus placebo in patients with pretreated CLL or SLL.

The identification of a deletion 20q in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia may not indicate they have developed a myelodysplastic syndrome as was previously assumed.

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, medical director, Leukemia Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses resistance to ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Combination therapy has significant potential to fill the niche of developing resistance to BTK inhibitors and rational pairings of ibrutinib with other standard treatments, including chemoimmunotherapy and CD20-targeting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are rapidly gaining ground.

Nicole Lamanna, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, discusses incorporating novel therapies into the standard treatment paradigm for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax (GDC-0199/ABT-199) for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia who harbor a 17p deletion (del[17p]).

To gain further insight into the impact of ibrutinib and idelalisib, as well as other emerging therapies and treatment strategies in CLL, OncLive sat down with Steven Coutre, MD, at the AACR meeting,

Steven Coutre, MD, professor of medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, discusses the eventual role chemotherapy will have in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Treatment with ofatumumab plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide significantly improved progression-free survival compared with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide alone in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Single-agent ibrutinib demonstrated an overall response rate of 91%, including a complete response rate of 14%, in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Ibrutinib and idelalisib will increase individual out-of-pocket and societal costs of caring for patients with CLL.

In an interview with OncLive, William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, discusses the changing role of chemotherapy in the management of CLL and the integration of novel agents into clinical practice.

Progression on treatment with ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia was associated with pretreatment BCL6 abnormalities, acquired mutations in BTK and PLCG2, and complex karyotypes.

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, medical director of the Leukemia Center at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, discusses upcoming RESONATE-2 trial results for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The phase III HELIOS study examining ibrutinib in combination with bendamustine and rituximab has been unblinded following the demonstration of a significant extension in progression-free survival in patients with CLL or SLL.

AbbVie has announced plans to acquire the blockbuster BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, through a $21 billion acquisition of Pharmacyclics.

For additional insight on new agents and other emerging CLL therapies, OncLive spoke with Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, and Deputy Director for Research at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

Thomas Kipps, MD, PhD, Division of Hematology-Oncology Deputy Director for Research at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, discusses the mechanisms of ibrutinib and idelalisib for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Jeffrey Jones, MD, presented evidence supporting the integration of obinutuzumab, ibrutinib, ofatumumab, and idelalisib into the frontline setting for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Standard chemotherapy remains part of the treatment paradigm for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia but its role is undergoing a major shift as significant advances are being made in novel therapies.

ASCO named the vastly improved outlook for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia as its inaugural "Cancer Advance of the Year."