Dr. Niemann on Ibrutinib Plus Venetoclax Vs Chlorambucil and Obinutuzumab in Mutated CLL

Carsten Niemann, MD, PhD, chief physician, head of Laboratory, Rigshospitalet Copenhagen University Hospital, discusses ibrutinib (Imbruvica) plus venetoclax (Venclexta) vs chlorambucil and obinutuzumab (Gazyva) in mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The phase 3 GLOW study (NCT03462719) examined progression-free survival (PFS) with ibrutinib plus venetoclax vs chlorambucil and obinutuzumab in the first-line setting.

With longer follow-up, investigators found that patients with unmutated IGHV who have detectable minimal residual disease (MRD) have shorter PFS, Niemann says. Notably, IGHVunmuted patients achieving undetectable MRD levels after treatment have a good PFS rate above 90% at 3.5 years of follow-up.

Additionally, patients with IGHV mutations have favorable PFS regardless of MRD status, Niemann concludes.