Dr. Lee on the Potential Utility of Ibrutinib/Cirmtuzumab in MCL

Hun Ju Lee, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, and the Jessica and Jeffrey Brue Endowed Professor of Lymphoma Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the potential utility of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in combination with cirmtuzumab in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Findings from a phase 1/2 study (NCT03088878), which were presented virtually during the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, showed that the investigational, ROR1-directed monoclonal antibody cirmtuzumab plus ibrutinib was well tolerated and active in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. Moreover, the complete response rate was improved with the combination compared with historical rates for single-agent ibrutinib in this patient population, Lee says.

Notably, the combination did not appear to induce additive toxicities, which suggests it could be utilized for older patients with MCL without compromising quality of life, Lee explains.