Dr. Mato on Factors for Choosing BTK Inhibitors or Venetoclax in CLL

Anthony Mato, MD, MSCE, hematologic oncologist, director, CLL Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the factors used to make treatment decisions between BTK inhibitors and venetoclax (Venclexta) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The 3 FDA-approved BTK inhibitors for CLL—ibrutinib (Imbruvica), acalabrutinib (Calquence), and zanubrutinib (Brukinsa)—have not been compared in any head-to-head trials against each other or venetoclax in the frontline setting, Mato says. Without head-to-head data, it is important to look at other factors before choosing a treatment for each individual patient, Mato adds. Patient preference is important to consider, along with comorbidities, a patient’s molecular genetic profile, and available data for each agent regarding progression-free survival, overall survival, and toxicity, Mato explains.

When taking these aspects into consideration, it can be a long conversation to determine the best course of treatment for each patient, Mato continues. However, all these agents represent effective treatment options for patients with CLL, Mato concludes.