Dr. Rogers on Assessing MRD After Obinutuzumab/Ibrutinib/Venetoclax in CLL

Kerry Rogers, MD, hematologist/oncologist, assistant professor, Department of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses the minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment component of a phase 2 trial (NCT02427451)evaluating obinutuzumab (Gazyva), ibrutinib (Imbruvica), and venetoclax (Venclexta) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

 Three-year follow-up data from a phase 2 study evaluating the triplet in patients with CLL were presented virtually during the 2020 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. The regimen was administered for a total of 14 28-day cycles. Patients were assessed 8 weeks post-treatment. 

MRD was assessed in the bone marrow and peripheral blood by standard 10-color flow cytometry with a standard limit of detection of 10-4. Notably, circulating disease burden was closely evaluated in the peripheral blood during the time of treatment; however, at the end of therapy, it was important to assess in both compartments, Rogers concludes.