Dr. Ghosh on the Role of MRD in CLL

Nilanjan Ghosh, MD, PhD, director of the Lymphoma Program and a physician with Levine Cancer Institute, discusses the role of minimal residual disease (MRD) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Although ​MRD has been well established as a prognostic marker in CLL, there is still much to learn in terms of risk-adapted, MRD​-directed therapies, says Ghosh. Data in that regard could spotlight the actionability of MRD in CLL.

Notably, in the phase 2 CAPTIVATE trial, patients received ibrutinib ​(Imbruvica) plus ​venetoclax (Venclexta). After 12 cycles of combination therapy, patients were randomized to continued ibrutinib monotherapy or placebo based on MRD assessment, Ghosh says

Updated data are highly anticipated in the field, Ghosh concludes.