William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, professor, D.B. Lane Cancer Research Distinguished Professor, section chief of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, center medical director, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, and executive medical director, Inpatient Medical Services, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the fixed-duration cohort results of the phase 2 CAPTIVATE trial (NCT02910583) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The results of the primary analysis of the fixed-duration cohort, which were reported at the 

, demonstrated a 55% complete response (CR)/CR with incomplete bone marrow recovery (CRi) rate with the fixed-duration combination of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) plus venetoclax (Venclexta) in all treated patients with CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma. The CR/CRi rate was 56% among patients without 17p deletions. Additionally, a significant proportion of patients treated achieved undetectable minimal residual disease with the combination, Wierda says. 

Patients who received 3 cycles of single-agent ibrutinib prior to the addition of venetoclax had a reduced risk for tumor lysis syndrome and less need for hospitalization compared with patients who didn’t receive 3 cycles of single-agent ibrutinib, Wierda explains. Moreover, the fixed-duration regimen was well tolerated among patients and did not elicit increased toxicity compared with what would be expected with single-agent ibrutinib or venetoclax. Ultimately, the fixed-duration approach was found to elicit deep remissions with most patients experiencing long remissions, Wierda concludes.

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William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, discusses the fixed-duration cohort results of the phase 2 CAPTIVATE trial in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.



Dr. Wierda on the Fixed-Duration Cohort Results of CAPTIVATE Trial in CLL 

William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses two combination studies with venetoclax for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) during the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting.

Updated results of a phase Ib study examining the combination of venetoclax plus rituximab demonstrated deep and durable responses with patients with CLL, Wierda explains. Secondly, a phase III study of venetoclax plus obinutuzumab in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL also showed that the combination demonstrated activity in these patients.

Such combination regimens suggest that there is enhanced activity in patients when venetoclax is combined with a CD20 antibody, such as rituximab. However, Wierda cautions on comparing the efficacy of venetoclax as monotherapy and in combination with rituximab, since more data need to be conducted.

View more from the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting

William G. Wierda, MD

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Dr. Wierda on the Fixed-Duration Cohort Results of CAPTIVATE Trial in CLL

Dr. Wierda on Combination Regimens With Venetoclax in CLL