Dr. Pleyer on Next Steps With Ibrutinib Plus Short-Course Fludarabine in Previously Untreated CLL

Christopher Pleyer, MD, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, discusses the next steps with ​the combination of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and ​short-course fludarabine in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Data from a phase 2 pilot trial (NCT02514083) ​suggest that the combination of ibrutinib and short‐course fludarabine is safe and effective in patients with previously untreated CLL, says Pleyer. 

Although high complete remission rates were achieved, longer follow-up data is needed to determine whether these findings can translate into long-term clinical benefit, such as improved progression-free survival and overall survival​.

Looking to the future, research efforts should focus on identifying effective time-limited treatments and combination therapies that induce high rates of undetectable minimal residual disease, Pleyer concludes.