Clinical Outcomes After BTK Inhibitor and B-Cell Lymphoma 2 Inhibitor Treatment Among Patients With CLL

Results from a Retrospective Real-World Database Study

According to a retrospective real-world database study, there is a need for more effective therapies after treatment with both a covalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Toby A. Eyre, MD, Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom, and coauthors stated that currently, “[Covalent BTK inhibitor] and [B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor] therapies are the currently preferred treatment options in national guidelines for patients with CLL in all lines of therapy.” However, “once both [covalent BTK inhibitor] and [B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor] agents have been exhausted, there is a lack of treatment options that continue to control disease in routine clinical practice among those exposed to both agents.” 

This retrospective study analyzed clinical outcomes among patients with CLL who previously received both a covalent BTK inhibitor and BCL2 inhibitor in a real-world setting. A total of 548 patients met the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the study, which was conducted using the nationwide de-identified Flatiron Health electronic health record-derived database.

In this analysis, the outcomes for the immediate next line of therapy following the last treatment of either the covalent BTK inhibitor or the BCL2 inhibitor treatment included a real-world response rate of 34.4%, median duration of real-world response of 13.3 months, and and median real-world progression-free survival of 9.2 months. 

 “There is a need for more effective therapies after [covalent BTK inhibitor] and [B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor] therapy for patients with CLL," the study authors concluded. 

Source: 

Eyre TA, Hess LM, Sugihara T, et al. Clinical outcomes among patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who received treatment with a covalent BTK and BCL2 inhibitor in the United States: a real-world database study. Leukemia & Lymphoma. Published online March 29, 2023:1-12. doi:10.1080/10428194.2023.2190436