Dr. Nastoupil on Questions Surrounding TGR1202 in Patients With CLL

Loretta J. Nastoupil, MD, Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the questions researchers are currently facing with TGR1202 in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

This was a phase I study with a small cohort of patients with CLL; however, it did include a long duration of drug exposure. Prior data with PI3K inhibitors show that it is associated with unique side effects, such as infection, pneumonitis, transaminitis, and colitis that have impeded patients' ability to stay on therapy.

However, TGR1202 may have a differentiated safety profile. There have not been the same rates of adverse events observed. However, there was an 18% rate of neutropenia, which compares favorably with chemotherapy. Additionally, there was an 11% of pneumonia favorable across comparison with other PI3K inhibitors. Longer follow-up is needed, she concludes.