Dr. Karmali on Next Steps of Research Regarding Ibrutinib Maintenance in MCL

Reem Karmali, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses the next steps for research regarding the use of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) as maintenance therapy in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

A study that examined ibrutinib maintenance following intensive induction therapy showed that the approach is feasible and the toxicities are manageable, says Karmali. However, longer follow-up data are needed, as well as analysis of patients’ minimal residual disease (MRD) status. The primary objective of the study was to look at efficacy, which was assessed according to the rate of 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates.

However, an exploratory analysis looked at MRD status and an IgH polymerase chain reaction, based methodology. Investigators believe that MRD will provide better insight into whether patients can achieve deeper responses with ibrutinib maintenance. With this analysis, researchers hope to show a correlation between MRD status and PFS and overall survival that would warrant further exploration of ibrutinib maintenance, concludes Karmali.