Dr. Tam on BTK Inhibitor BGB-3111 in CLL

Constantine S. Tam, MD, associate professor, Peter MacCullum Cancer Centre, discusses BGB-3111, a new BTK inhibitor being used in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

In this phase I dose-escalation study, 66 patients with CLL/SLL were given BGB-3111 at escalating doses starting at 40 mg per day to 160 mg twice a day. Both previously treated and frontline patients were included in the study, which reported a response rate of 96% in early follow-up data.

Although no complete remissions have been seen yet, both relapse with mutations and Richter’s transformation have not been reported.

Currently, BGB-3111 is being used as both a single agent and in combinations in 3 phase I clinical trials focused on establishing safety and efficacy for patients with B-cell lymphoid malignancies.