Targeted Therapies
Most new “small molecules” can be taken by mouth. Many work by blocking pathways that the cancer cells have pirated and become addicted to such as signaling pathways. Examples include ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, duvelisib and others. Others, such as venetoclax, remove blockades that the cancer has created which prevent natural cell death. These therapies target the cancer and spare most healthy cells.
ARTICLES ON TARGETED THERAPIES
While time-limited treatment for CLL with venetoclax sounds appealing, its use is low because it is more complicated to start than a BTK inhibitor.
A phase 1 clinical trial is recruiting patients to test the safety and tolerability of the new noncovalent BTK inhibitor docirbrutinib.
In this study, venetoclax ramp-up without prior anti-CD20 antibody therapy was safe for patients with CLL with a low rate of tumor lysis syndrome.
Acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab is a highly active, time-limited frontline therapy for patients with high-risk CLL.
Resistance mutations in BTK and PLCG2 are common in patients with CLL who progress on acalabrutinib, a BTK inhibitor treatment that is taken continuously.
An interim analysis of the AMPLIFY trial comparing acalabrutinib and venetoclax with or without obinutuzumab for CLL shows improvements in patient survival.
RECENT NEWS
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