Dr. Abedin on the Safety and Efficacy of Ibrutinib in CLL

Sameem Abedin, MD, an assistant professor at the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses the safety and efficacy of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Ibrutinib is one of the most utilized options for this patient population in the clinic, according to Abedin. The frequent use of the agent has allowed for a better understanding regardingdose modification and other strategies that can increase tolerability, Abedin says. As such, when selecting among the BTK inhibitors that are available to patients with CLL, ibrutinib continues to be a beneficial option, Abedin notes.

Adverse effects (AEs), such as heartrate abnormalities and high blood pressure, have been reported with ibrutinib, and as such, it is important to consider how to navigate away from these toxicities—especially in the frontline setting, where the agent is most likely to be used, Abedin explains. If toxicity challenges prevent the use of ibrutinib, recent studies suggest that acalabrutinib (Calquence) is a well-tolerated treatment option for these patients, Abedin concludes.