Dr. Phillips Discusses Ongoing Research With BTK Inhibitors 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 ongoing research with BTK inhibitors in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

The results of the ELEVATE-PLUS trial demonstrated that a novel formulation of acalabrutinib (Calquence) called acalabrutinib maleate was safe and well tolerated when administered as a tablet or suspension. Moreover, the results suggest that the efficacy of the new formulation will be similar to that of traditional acalabrutinib irrespective of whether patients receive a proton pump inhibitor, Phillips explains.

Additionally, pirtobrutinib is an investigational noncovalent BTK inhibitor being evaluated in MCL. The phase 3 BRUIN-MCL-321 trial (NCT04662255) is currently enrolling patients with previously treated, BTK inhibitor–naïve MCL to evaluate pirtobrutinib vs approved BTK inhibitors like ibrutinib (Imbruvica), acalabrutinib, and zanubrutinib (Brukinsa).

Finally, the results of the phase 3 SHINE trial (NCT01776840), which is evaluating ibrutinib plus bendamustine and rituximab (Rituxan; BR), as well as the phase 3 ECHO trial (NCT02972840), which is evaluating acalabrutinib plus BR in newly diagnosed MCL are anticipated to determine how to optimally utilize BTK inhibitors in clinical practice, Phillips concludes.