Dr. Leslie on the Utility of BTK Inhibitors in B-Cell Malignancies

Lori A. Leslie, MD, lymphoma attending, John Theurer Cancer Center, discusses the utility of BTK inhibitors in B-cell malignancies.

BTK inhibitors target an enzyme that is necessary for B​-cell growth, says Leslie. ​Moreover, there are several approved indications ​for BTK inhibitors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma ​(MCL), and ​Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

Notably, ibrutinib (Imbruvica) ​and acalabrutinib (Calquence) ​are 2 BTK inhibitors that are approved for patients with B-cell malignancies. Moreover, zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) is currently approved in relapsed/refractory MCL and is the subject of ongoing investigation in other B-cell malignancies, Leslie concludes.