Chemotherapy-free treatment effective for CLL/SLL
Published on: 6 December 2018New trial shows a combination of ibrutinib and obinutuzumab is an alternative to ibrutinib plus chemo in first-line treatment of CLL/SLL
The results of a clinical trial called iLLUMINATE have been published this month in the Lancet Oncology.
The study compared two treatments in people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) / small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who had not been treated before. The two treatments were:
ibrutinib (a targeted drug) + obinutuzumab (a monoclonal antibody)
chlorambucil (a chemotherapy drug) + obinutuzumab.
Both treatments involved 6 cycles lasting 28 days each.
A total of 229 people took part in the study. By 30 months (2.5 years) after treatment, lymphoma had not progressed in 79% of people who were treated with ibrutinib + obinutuzumab lymphoma compared with 31% of people who were treated with ibrutinib + chlorambucil. In other words, the treatment response lasted longer for people treated with ibrutinib + obinutuzumab. However, they also experienced more side effects.
The researchers concluded that ibrutinib + obinutuzumab is an effective and safe chemotherapy-free treatment and provides an alternative option for patients with CLL/SLL who have not been treated before.
For more information on clinical trials and studies, including what they are and how they work, visit Lymphoma TrialsLink. You can also use our searchable database to find a trial or study that might be suitable for you.