Jennifer Crombie, MD, of the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA discusses the results of a phase I study testing the combination of duvelisib and venetoclax in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Both duvelisib, an oral inhibitor of PI3K-δ/γ, and venetoclax, an oral inhibitor of BCL-2, are approved for relapsed/refractory CLL. Combining the two medications is hypothesized to improve remissions and allow for an all oral, time-limited therapy. As Dr. Crombie explains in the video, they observed that the combination therapy was safe and effective, and a phase 2 study is currently recruiting patients. For more information about the phase I study results, click here. For more information about trial recruitment, click here.
CLL is slow developing cancer involving lymphocytes. Most cases occur in older adults. Treatment is dependent on the stage of CLL but can involve a combination of chemotherapies. In refractory or relapsed CLL, treatment options tend to be more aggressive, and researchers are continuing to seek more tolerable and more effective treatment options for these patients.