Dr. Sharman on Entospletinib in Patients With CLL

Jeff Sharman, MD, director of Research with Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center, medical director of Hematology Research for The US Oncology Network, discusses clinical activity of entospletinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who were previously treated with a B-cell receptor pathway signaling inhibitor.

Entospletinib is a SYK inhibitor, Sharman explains. SYK is one member of the downstream signaling pathway of the B-cell receptor, in which other targets include BTK and PI3K delta. Agents such as ibrutinib and idelalisib are already used in this space, but this third agent targets another portion of the pathway, he adds.

Substantial activity with entospletinib has been observed in patients in an ongoing study. High levels of response and prolonged disease control have also been demonstrated. Reported toxicities, which include liver function test abnormalities, have been manageable, Sharman says.