Dr. Lee on the Tolerability of Ibrutinib/Cirmtuzumab in MCL and CLL

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 tolerability of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) plus cirmtuzumab in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL).

 Although ibrutinib is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, ibrutinib, in combination with cirmtuzumab, appears to be very well tolerated for patients with MCL and CLL, explains Lee. During the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition, findings from the part 1, dose-escalation portion of a phase 1/2 study (NCT03088878) were presented, evaluating the role of cirmtuzumab, an anti-ROR1 antibody, in combination with ibrutinib.

The results did not demonstrate adverse effects (AEs) of special interest with the combination that could increase the risk of atrial fibrillation among this patient population, Lee says. Moreover, most AEs were grade 1 or 2 and no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Common toxicities noted were consistent with previously reported data and included diarrhea and fatigue. Safety will be further assessed in part 2 of the study, Lee concludes.