Dr. Wang on Addition of Acalabrutinib to Bendamustine/Rituximab in MCL

Michael Wang, MD, professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the addition of acalabrutinib (Calquence) to bendamustine and rituximab (Rituxan; BR) in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

The standard frontline therapy in elderly patients with MCL is BR, says Wang. Investigators believed that by adding the second-generation BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib, they could improve overall response rate, progression-free survival, and potentially the overall survival. In a small study of approximately 20 patients with relapsed disease, investigators reported promising data with the triplet therapy. These data served as the basis for the phase III ECHO trial (NCT02972840) in treatment-naïve patients with MCL.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is currently enrolling, adds Wang. Two-hundred fifty centers are participating in the trial which, if positive, could change the standard of care in the frontline setting, Wang concludes.