Dr. Phillips on the Current Role of Ibrutinib in MCL

Tycel Jovelle Phillips, MD, clinical associate professor, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Rogel Cancer Center, Michigan Medicine, discusses the current role of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Following the initial approval of ibrutinib in MCL in 2013, the field has developed a greater understanding of how to best mitigate adverse effects (AEs) associated with ibrutinib, Phillips says. Moreover, safety differences between the available BTK inhibitors inform treatment decisions for patients.

Specifically, ibrutinib confers short-term risks of atrial fibrillation, diarrhea, and infections, as well as long-term risks like hypertension, Phillips explains. Despite these AEs, ibrutinib remains a widely utilized drug in the treatment of patients with MCL. However, having alternative BTK inhibitors available allows treatment to be tailored appropriately to a patient’s individual needs, Phillips concludes.