Enrico Tiacci, MD, associate professor of hematology, University and Hospital of Perugia, Italy, discusses updated data of a phase II trial (EudraCT 2014-003046-27) investigating the combination of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) and rituximab (Rituxan) for patients with relapsed/refractory hairy cell leukemia.

The trial enrolled 31 patients previously treated with purine analogs to receive 8 weeks of 960 mg of vemurafenib twice daily followed by concomitant 375 mg/m

  of intravenous rituximab every 2 weeks. Consolidation rituximab was given 4 times every 2 weeks after stopping vemurafenib.

Notably, of the 27 evaluable patients, 26 achieved a complete remission (CR). Additionally, 65% of patients had minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity after treatment.

Progression-free survival (PFS) was 100% after a median of 30.5 months for the patients who obtained a MRD-negative CR. Patients who were MRD-positive following treatment had a median PFS of 24.5 months.

Further follow-up will be conducted in this patient cohort, but these results appear promising, concludes Tiacci.

Videos

Enrico Tiacci, MD, discusses updated data of a phase II trial investigating the combination of vemurafenib and rituximab for patients with relapsed/refractory hairy cell leukemia. 
 

Dr. Tiacci on Vemurafenib and Rituximab Combo in Hairy Cell Leukemia

Enrico Tiacci, MD, associate professor of hematology, University and Hospital of Perugia, Italy, discusses the current treatment options for patients with hairy cell leukemia in an interview during the 

2019 Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation Annual Conference

Currently, the standard of care for these patients are purine nucleoside analogs, including pentostatin and cladribine. Both of these agents elicit high complete response rates in the order of 80% to 90%. Additionally, patients with hairy cell leukemia treated with either of these agents have experienced prolonged median responses.

View more from the 2019 Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation Annual Conference

Enrico Tiacci, MD, discusses the current treatment options for patients with hairy cell leukemia. Currently, the standard of care for these patients are purine nucleoside analogs, including pentostatin and cladribine.

Dr. Tiacci on Standard of Care in Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment

Enrico Tiacci, MD, associate professor of hematology, University and Hospital of Perugia, Italy, discusses safety and efficacy results of a trial evaluating the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelboraf) combined with rituximab (Rituxan) in hairy cell leukemia (HCL).

The phase II trial included 31 patients with relapsed or refractory HCL. Patients received vemurafenib twice daily for 8 weeks and rituximab every 2 weeks. After finishing vemurafenib, patients received rituximab 4 more times, at 2-week intervals.

Out of 31 patients, 27 were evaluable and all except 1 of the evaluable patients achieved complete remission (CR), according to Tiacci. About 63% of patients achieved CR after 2 cycles of the combination. About 65% of patients were negative for minimal residual disease in the bone marrow, and the rate of progression-free survival was 83% at a median follow-up of 29.5 months.

The combination did not create any new toxicities, according to Tiacci. The adverse events (AEs) were mostly grade 1/2 and reversible, and common AEs included rash, arthritis, phototoxicity, and increase of pancreatic enzymes.

Enrico Tiacci, MD, discusses safety and efficacy results of a trial evaluating the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib combined with rituximab in hairy cell leukemia.

Enrico Tiacci, MD

Articles

Dr. Tiacci on Vemurafenib and Rituximab Combo in Hairy Cell Leukemia

Dr. Tiacci on Standard of Care in Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment

Dr. Tiacci on Vemurafenib/Rituximab Combo in HCL