Dr. Davids Discusses Duvelisib Plus FCR in Young Patients With CLL

Matthew Davids, MD, MMSc, associate director, Center for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses duvelisib plus fludarabine-cyclophosphamide-rituximab (FCR) as a frontline therapy for the treatment of younger patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

This combination was evaluated in a phase Ib/II study, findings of which were presented at the 2018 European Hematology Association Congress. The PI3K inhibitor duvelisib was added to FCR, which is a common frontline therapy for this patient population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety of the combination, as well as assess the rate of complete response (CR) with bone marrow minimal residual disease (MRD) after treatment.

Of 32 patients enrolled, 29 were evaluable. The overall response rate was 97%, with 28% achieving CR or CR with incomplete blood count recovery. Additionally, 69% of the evaluable patients achieved a partial response. This regimen proved to be an effective therapy for younger patients with CLL. There was also a high rate of MRD negativity in the bone marrow (81%).