Dr. Chanan-Khan on Ibrutinib as Backbone of Treatment for CLL

Asher A. Chanan-Khan, MD, chair, Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic in Florida, discusses ibrutinib as a backbone of treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

It is critical for patients with relapsed CLL to have ibrutinib as the backbone of their treatment plan and in the management of their disease, Chanan-Khan explains. Ibrutinib is found to be effective because it improves progression-free and overall survival.

In a recent study examining the combination of ibrutinib with bendamustine and ritxuimab in patients with CLL and SLL, no safety concerns were observed. Therefore, ibrutinib can be seen as a well-tolerated and safe agent for patients, Chanan-Khan adds.