Chemoimmunotherapy with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) is effective in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), and patients with mutated IGHV have favourable long-term outcomes.

In a Phase II study led by MD Anderson, researchers evaluated the efficacy of ibrutinib, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and obinutuzumab (iFCG) ­— a chemoimmunotherapy and targeted therapy combination — in 45 previously untreated patients with IGHV-mutated CLL. Nitin Jain, M.D., reported on the long-term outcomes of the study after a median follow-up of 56.8 months.

After just three cycles, 87% of patients had undetectable measurable residual disease (U-MRD), with improved responses after continued therapy.

The five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 97.7% and 97.8%, respectively. One patient had CLL progression.

No patient had Richter’s transformation. The findings reveal that iFCG offers high rates of U-MRD remission and long-term survival with only three cycles of chemotherapy, as opposed to previous treatments with six cycles of chemotherapy. 

Source: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center