ATLANTA – Relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) often has a suboptimal response to conventional chemotherapy, because of adverse biological features that can accumulate in cells.
The combination of bendamustine (Treanda) and rituximab has been associated with about 60% overall responses rates, median progression-free survival of approximately 15 months, and overall survival of nearly 3 years in patients with CLL, and there is now evidence that substituting venetoclax (Venclexta) for bendamustine could improve outcomes even further.
In a video interview at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, comparing bendamustine plus rituximab with venetoclax plus rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL.
Venetoclax/rituximab was superior to bendamustine/rituximab for prolonging progression-free survival, with effects consistent across subgroups, regardless of mutation status, and for having a clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival.
The MURANO trial was funded by AbbVie. Dr. Seymour reported honoraria, research funding, and advisory committee and speakers bureau participation for AbbVie and other companies.