Long-term outcomes for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and TP53 aberrations who were treated with ibrutinib or a combo of ibrutinib plus rituximab were reported by researchers at the 63^rd ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition.

“In this long-term follow-up, patients with CLL and TP53 aberrations treated with ibrutinib had an estimated 6-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival of 47% and 72%, respectively,” stated authors of the study.

Median age of patients included in this study was 65 years, 65% of the patients were men, 64% had unmutated IGHV, and 35% had advanced stage disease, according to researchers.

Researchers also noted that of the 77 patients evaluable for response assessment, 40 were in the ibrutinib arm, and 37 were in the ibrutinib plus rituximab arm. According to findings from authors, 25 patients (32.5%) achieved complete remission (CR) while 50 patients (64.9%) achieved partial remissions, and 2 patients had stable disease, which resulted in an overall response rate of 97.4%.

In addition, researchers explained that 57 patients came off the study noting the most common reasons for treatment discontinuation as side effects and/or toxicities and disease progression. Change to an alternative therapy as per physician’s choice seen in 10 patients (13%) and death in 6 patients (8%) were noted by study authors as the other reasons for treatment discontinuation.

“First-line treatment with ibrutinib induced more durable remissions with a 6-year PFS of 59% compared to relaxed/refractory patients with a PFS of 41%,” concluded authors. “Quality of remission was important, longer PFS was associated with achieving CR in this high-risk population.”

Reference:
Sivina M, Kim E, Wierda WG, et al. Long-term outcome of treatment-naïve and relapsed/refractory patients with CLL and TP53 aberrations treated with ibrutinib, with or without rituximab. Poster presented at: 63rd ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition; December 11-14, 2021; Atlanta, GA.