Dr. Yazbeck on Idelalisib Plus BR in Relapsed/Refractory CLL

Victor Y. Yazbeck, MD, assistant professor, Hematology-Oncology, Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine, VCU Massey Cancer Center, discusses a phase III study examining idelalisib plus bendamustine and rituximab (BR) in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 416 patients were randomized to receive BR plus idelalisib or BR plus placebo, Yazbeck explains. Results showed that the combination regimen showed a doubling in progression-free survival of 23.1 months compared with 11.1 months in the placebo arm. Progression and death were reduced by 67% in the idelalisib arm, he says.

The combination with idelalisb also showed an improvement in overall survival, including in patients with 17p deletion. This regimen will likely become a standard of care in the relapsed setting, Yazbeck adds.