Subject terms
CLL
CLL, CHRONIC LEUKEMIA LYMPHOCYTIC, SECONDARY, REMISSION, MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE (MRD)
Data on long-term outcomes and biological drivers associated with depth of remission after BCL2 inhibition by venetoclax in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are limited. In this open-label parallel-group phase-3 study, 432 patients with previously untreated CLL were randomized (1:1) to receive either 1-year venetoclax-obinutuzumab (Ven-Obi, 216 patients) or chlorambucil-Obi (Clb-Obi, 216 patients) therapy (NCT02242942). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included minimal residual disease (MRD) and overall survival. RNA sequencing of CD19-enriched blood was conducted for exploratory post-hoc analyses. After a median follow-up of 65.4 months, PFS is significantly superior for Ven-Obi compared to Clb-Obi (Hazard ratio [HR] 0.35 [95% CI 0.26–0.46], The CLL14 study (NCT02242942) explored the activity of obinutuzumab (anti-CD20) plus venetoclax (Bcl2 inhibitor) versus obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Here the authors report the 5-year long-term results of the clinical trial and transcriptional profiles associated with response to therapies.