Rapid disease progression following discontinuation of ibrutinib in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated in routine clinical practice. Leukemia & lymphoma Hampel, P. J., Ding, W. n., Call, T. G., Rabe, K. G., Kenderian, S. S., Witzig, T. E., Muchtar, E. n., Leis, J. F., Chanan-Khan, A. A., Koehler, A. B., Fonder, A. L., Schwager, S. M., Slager, S. L., Shanafelt, T. D., Kay, N. E., Parikh, S. A. 2019: 1–8

Abstract

We identified all patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia at Mayo Clinic treated with ibrutinib outside the context of a clinical trial; timing and reasons for discontinuation were ascertained, as were symptoms, exam and radiographic findings, and laboratory changes following discontinuation. Of 202 patients who received ibrutinib, 52 discontinued therapy (estimated 1- and 2-year risk of discontinuation 18% and 28%, respectively). The most common reasons for discontinuation were toxicity (56%) and progression of disease (32%, including Richter's transformation in 15%). Rapid progression of disease within 4 weeks after discontinuation was observed in 9/36 (25%) patients with adequate records for review, mostly in those stopping ibrutinib for disease progression (n?=?8) rather than toxicity (n?=?1). This was evident by sudden worsening of disease-related symptoms (n?=?9), exam/radiographic changes (n?=?7), and laboratory changes (n?=?8). An estimated one in every three patients discontinued ibrutinib by 2 years, with 25% developing rapid disease progression afterwards.

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