Dr. Seymour on the PFS Benefit With Acalabrutinib With or Without Obinutuzumab in CLL

Erlene Seymour, MD, an assistant clinical professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine and a hematologist/oncologist at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, discusses the progression-free survival (PFS) benefit with acalabrutinib (Calquence) with or without obinutuzumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

In the phase 3 ELEVATE-TN study, investigators examined acalabrutinib with or without obinutuzumab (Gazyva) versus obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil, says Seymour. Acalabrutinib with or without obinutuzumab outperformed obinutuzumab and chlorambucil in treatment-naïve patients with CLL.

However, the arms that compared acalabrutinib by itself versus acalabrutinib plus obinutuzumab were not powered to find a difference. The main objective of the trial was to demonstrate that acalabrutinib combinations lead to a better progression-free survival benefit in the frontline compared with obinutuzumab/chlorambucil, concludes Seymour.