Dr. Eradat on the CAPTIVATE Trial in CLL

Herbert A. Eradat, MD, associate professor, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, discusses unprecedented aspects of the phase II CAPTIVATE trial in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Data from the trial were presented by William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting. The trial evaluated the combination of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and venetoclax (Venclexta) in treatment-naïve patients. One hundred percent of patients had a response to the treatment, marking the first time that deep responses leading to minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity had been observed.

With these combinations, the field may be able to start applying MRD testing to clinical practice and use the results to guide treatment discontinuation or reinitiation strategies, says Eradat. This would be similar to what is being done in chronic myeloid leukemia, he adds. The results of the trial may also shed light on when and how to reinitiate therapy, as well as when to test for resistance, Eradat concludes.